Comparison of Data from Rain Gauges and the IMERG Product to Analyse Precipitation in Mountain Areas of Central Italy

In central Italy, particularly in the Umbria-Marche Apennines, there are some complete, high-altitude weather stations, which are very important for assessing the climate in these areas. The mountain weather stations considered in this study were Monte Bove Sud (1917 m.a.s.l.), Monte Prata (1816 m.a.s.l.) and Pintura di Bolognola (1360 m.a.s.l.). The aim of this research was to compare the differences between the precipitation measured by the rain gauges and the data obtained by satellite using the IMERG algorithm, at the same locations. The evaluation of possible errors in the estimation of precipitation using one method or the other is fundamental for obtaining a reliable estimate of precipitation in mountain environments. The results revealed a strong underestimation of precipitation for the rain gauges at higher altitudes (Monte Bove Sud and Monte Prata) compared to the same pixel sampled by satellite. On the other hand, at lower altitudes, there was a better correlation between the rain gauge value and the IMERG product value. This research, although localised in well-defined locations, could help to assess the problems in rain detection through mountain weather stations.

Calculation of Potential Evapotranspiration and Calibration of the Hargreaves Equation Using Geostatistical Methods over the Last 10 Years in Central Italy

Potential evapotranspiration (ET0) is an indicator of great interest for water budget analysis and the agricultural sector. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to make the calculation reliable even if only the temperature data were present. In this research, the ET0 was initially calculated for a limited number of weather stations (12) using the Penman–Monteith method. In some cases, the simplified Penman–Monteith formula was adopted, while in others, as in the case of mountain weather stations, the complete formula was employed to consider the differences in vegetation, deduced from satellite surveys. Subsequently, the ET0 was calculated with the Hargreaves–Samani (HS) formula, calibrating the Hargreaves coefficient, through the spatialization of ET0, by the geostatistical method. The results showed a high reliability of the HS method in comparison with simplified PM (PM) method, and complete Penman–Monteith (cPM) method, with a minimum calibration of the empirical Hargreaves coefficient. In particular, a very good correlation between the results obtained in the mountain environment with the uncalibrated HS method and the cPM method was also observed in this area, while PM showed discordant and much higher results than ET0 compared with the other methods. It follows that this procedure allowed a more accurate estimate of potential evapotranspiration with a view to territory management, both in terms of water resources and the irrigation needs of the vegetation.

ANALISIS SISTEM TANDA PADA OBJEK WISATA PENDAKIAN GUNUNG GEDE PANGRANGO

Nowadays, the government is trying to improve the quality of the tourism sector in Indonesia. The government has built a lot of supporting facilities for tourists both local and foreign. However, the case of lost mountain climbers is still common. In this research, there will be a discussion about the sign system that provides people with information in Gunung Gede Pangrango Nationa Park. This study is also discussing a little about the natural conditions on some of these mountains.The study was conducted by direct observation of the climbing site to see and analyze directly the existing sign system. In addition, a number of statistical data will be collected from the management by means of a short interview which will be used as supporting data or secondary data in the study. This research is a qualitative study by conducting a literature study. This literature study was carried out during the sign system analysis process.Placement of signs, legibility and the durability of materials in extreme mountain weather conditions are the aspects to be analyzed based on the science of Visual Communication Design. This research was conducted so that the manager, both local and government, are able to give more attention to the application of the sign system along the climbing track so that it can help reduce the possibility of a climber getting lost.

Eleven years of mountain weather, snow, soil moisture and streamflow data from the rain–snow transition zone – the Johnston Draw catchment, Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed and Critical Zone Observatory, USA

Detailed hydrometeorological data from the rain-to-snow transition zone in mountain regions are limited. As the climate warms, the transition from rain to snow is moving to higher elevations, and these changes are altering the timing of downslope water delivery. To understand how these changes impact hydrological and biological processes in this climatologically sensitive region, detailed observations from the rain-to-snow transition zone are required. We present a complete hydrometeorological dataset for water years 2004 through 2014 for a watershed that spans the rain-to-snow transition zone (https://doi.org/10.15482/usda.adc/1402076). The Johnston Draw watershed (1.8 km2), ranging from 1497 to 1869 m in elevation, is a sub-watershed of the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW) in southwestern Idaho, USA. The dataset includes continuous hourly hydrometeorological variables across a 372 m elevation gradient, on north- and south-facing slopes, including air temperature, relative humidity, and snow depth from 11 sites in the watershed. Hourly measurements of incoming shortwave radiation, precipitation, wind speed and direction, soil moisture, and soil temperature are available at selected stations. The dataset includes hourly stream discharge measured at the watershed outlet. These data provide the scientific community with a unique dataset useful for forcing and validating hydrological models and will allow for better representation and understanding of the complex processes that occur in the rain-to-snow transition zone.

Eleven years of mountain weather, snow, soil moisture and stream flow data from the rain-snow transition zone – the Johnston Draw catchment, Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed and Critical Zone Observatory, USA

Detailed hydrometeorological data from the rain-to-snow transition zone in mountain regions are limited. As the climate warms, the transition from rain to snow is moving to higher elevations, and these changes are altering the timing of downslope water delivery. To understand how these changes impact hydrological and biological processes in this climatologically sensitive region, detailed observations from the rain-to-snow transition zone are required. We present a complete hydrometeorological dataset for water years 2004 through 2014 for a watershed that spans the rain-to-snow transition zone (doi:10.15482/USDA.ADC/1402076). The Johnston Draw watershed (1.8 km2), ranging from 1497–1869 m in elevation, is a sub-watershed of the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW) in southwestern Idaho, USA. The dataset includes continuous hourly hydrometeorological variables across a 372 m elevation gradient, on north- and south- facing slopes, including air temperature, relative humidity, and snow depth from 11 sites in the watershed. Hourly measurements of incoming shortwave radiation, precipitation, wind speed and direction, and soil moisture and temperature are available at selected stations. The dataset includes hourly stream discharge measured at the watershed outlet. These data provide the scientific community with a unique dataset useful for forcing and validating models and will allow for better representation and understanding of the complex processes that occur in the rain-to-snow transition zone.

The MATERHORN: Unraveling the Intricacies of Mountain Weather

Emerging application areas such as air pollution in megacities, wind energy, urban security, and operation of unmanned aerial vehicles have intensified scientific and societal interest in mountain meteorology. To address scientific needs and help improve the prediction of mountain weather, the U.S. Department of Defense has funded a research effort—the Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations (MATERHORN) Program—that draws the expertise of a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, and multinational group of researchers. The program has four principal thrusts, encompassing modeling, experimental, technology, and parameterization components, directed at diagnosing model deficiencies and critical knowledge gaps, conducting experimental studies, and developing tools for model improvements. The access to the Granite Mountain Atmospheric Sciences Testbed of the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, as well as to a suite of conventional and novel high-end airborne and surface measurement platforms, has provided an unprecedented opportunity to investigate phenomena of time scales from a few seconds to a few days, covering spatial extents of tens of kilometers down to millimeters. This article provides an overview of the MATERHORN and a glimpse at its initial findings. Orographic forcing creates a multitude of time-dependent submesoscale phenomena that contribute to the variability of mountain weather at mesoscale. The nexus of predictions by mesoscale model ensembles and observations are described, identifying opportunities for further improvements in mountain weather forecasting.