ATMOSPHERIC FEATURES:
Wind: Where Yellowstone is for the most part directly in the centre of the Rocky Mountains, it enjoys more rainfall and wetter, cooler western winds. However some of Yellowstone lies on the eastern downhill slope of the Rockies, where it experiences a 'phenomenon' called the Chinook winds. These winds come from the western coast as usual and once they are blocked by the mountains, they rise, becoming cooler and releasing their moisture via rainfall, snow or dew, so once they come back down the eastern side of the mountains they are dry and become rapidly warm upon decent. The Chinook, known as 'snow-eater' from it's original meaning in Native American, melts the snow and leaves a dry, warm wind blow.
Wind: Where Yellowstone is for the most part directly in the centre of the Rocky Mountains, it enjoys more rainfall and wetter, cooler western winds. However some of Yellowstone lies on the eastern downhill slope of the Rockies, where it experiences a 'phenomenon' called the Chinook winds. These winds come from the western coast as usual and once they are blocked by the mountains, they rise, becoming cooler and releasing their moisture via rainfall, snow or dew, so once they come back down the eastern side of the mountains they are dry and become rapidly warm upon decent. The Chinook, known as 'snow-eater' from it's original meaning in Native American, melts the snow and leaves a dry, warm wind blow.
Light (insolation): Yellowstone experiences insolation levels ranging from 1.33 to 6.24 kWh/m^2/day (kilowatt-hours per square meter per day) on average per month. Solar radiation is lowest during the winter months of October, November, December January and February, and reach their peak in June and July, the strongest summer months. At the middle of the year, at the summer peak in June/July, Yellowstone will endure 17 hours of daylight, and in winter (December and January), it's lowest daylight duration amount will be 10 hours. The effect of light intensity and exposure time defines the amount of photosynthesis trees are able to do. In winter, due to conifers having very dark leaves, they are able to start photosynthesis early using as much available sun as possible.
Humidity: Yellowstone has a low relative humidity. Where there is low elevation, the temperatures usually increase, which increases evaporation levels. However, particularly in summer, but also in the winter months, when it is colder, evaporation levels decrease and humidity can rise to 40-45%.
Precipitation: Precipitation is relatively low-moderate in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with an average annual rainfall of 15.4 inches and an annual snowfall of 72.1 inches. Rainfall in Yellowstone varies in the forms of rain, snow and dew. Rain tends to fall at higher rates in the Spring and Summer, where as in winter, water is distributed via snow.
Temperature: Due to Yellowstone's varied altitude levels from between 1,610 and 3,642 meters, temperature and weather conditions vary. For example, the lower altitude regions and grasslands can climb to even 30 degrees celsius in the summer, but remain at maximum 25 degrees further up the mountains, whereas temperatures can fall to below -20 degrees celsius in the higher winter season. This affects both the plant, animal and non-living system, which will vary in each climatic region.
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WATER FEATURES:
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake (above 7,000ft) in the Northern Hemisphere.
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake (above 7,000ft) in the Northern Hemisphere.
PH: Across numerous off runs from Yellowstone Lake, data was collected for the "Water-Quality Assessment of the Yellowstone River Basin, Montana and Wyoming - Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1999-2001" revealing that (including outliers/extremes) across the 10 rivers surveyed, a pH range from 7.2 to 8.9 was recorded, indicating a low-moderate alkaline solution.
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Temperature: The recorded temperatures across the same 10 rivers as surveyed in the "Water-Quality Assessment of the Yellowstone River Basin, Montana and Wyoming - Water Quality of Fixed Sites, 1999-2001" data collection ranged from below 0 degrees to 28 degrees celsius.
Salinity: Unable to find data. To my understanding, all water sources in Yellowstone National Park are freshwater.
SOIL FEATURES:
Nutrients: Yellowstone, characteristic of a taiga biome, has typically nutrient-poor soil. However, in saying so, the nutrient-rich soils are found in regions of Yellowstone that are of andesite and nutrient-poor soils are found from rhyolite areas where nutrients are about 1/3 lower than found in andesite areas. This affects the plant communities. Due to decomposers taking longer to decompose the needles on the forest floor, nutrients is often restored more efficiently with natural fires.
Fire: Fires are an extremely significant factor for the forest, especially in Yellowstone. Decomposers would be relied upon to redisperse the nutrients back into the soil, but due to the cold climate of the Rockies and the area, forest fires are a more efficient agent. Fires are crucial to the plant community in Yellowstone.
Soil Moisture: Mostly moist but noticeably dry during the four months following the summer solstice period. Similar to the nutrients areas, moisture retention is higher in andesite areas than rhyolite.
PH: Soil in Yellowstone has quite a high acidity level, at least on the topsoil. Typically between 5.0 and 4.6 acidity. The soil is so acidic because of the fallen conifer needles that remain on the forest floor for extended periods of time without decomposition.
Composition: Soil in the taiga biome is called spodosol. Spodosol soil is described as typically having layers of organic topsoil with a leached grey subsoil and an iron-rich clay/loam layer below. Yellowstone soil is shallow and drained, formed at the feet of steep slopes with residue of basalt and other volcanic rock types. Refer to above picture for texture description.
Temperature: On average annually, between 6 and 8 degrees celsius, and less than 8 degrees in the summer.