How’s the Weather Down There?
Have you ever rowed furiously against phenomenal winds that wanted to take you back to Lees Ferry? Have you ever seen lightning strikes in the Canyon or rounded a bend only to float right into a dense wet fog bank? Wonderful! I would love to hear from you.
My name is Molly Pohl and I’m a graduate student in Geography at Arizona State University. I am writing an article on “Anecdotal Evidence of the Climate in Grand Canyon” (e.g. what the people who know the river have noticed about the weather and climate along the Colorado River.) This work is part of a larger effort being made by the Arizona State University Geography Department to conduct the first detailed investigation of the climate and weather of the Grand Canyon. I suspect that few people are more familiar with the changing weather conditions in the canyon than river guides. Your knowledge of the Canyon would be a great asset to this study. I will gladly acknowledge you for your contribution. I am excited to put this all together, but it can’t be done without your help. Thank you!
The goal of this questionnaire is to collect anecdotal information on climate of the Grand Canyon, focusing on wind patterns and changes in temperature and humidity both over time and as you move downriver. For ‘downriver’ questions, you might want to discuss particular downriver reaches such as: Marble Canyon (approx. mi. 0-60), Inner Gorge or Upper Granite Gorge (approx. mi. 60-115), the Isles (approx. mi. 115-140), Muav Gorge (approx. mi. 140-180), and below Lava Falls (after mi. 180). Or, if this division doesn’t capture the weather differences downriver, tell me which reaches you think distinguish areas of different weather conditions. I’m open to ideas!
So, what specific questions do I have for you?
Grand Canyon Winds: What are your impressions of the general character of the winds in Grand Canyon?
1. What are the wind directions during the day? At night? Note: ‘Wind direction’ refers to where the wind is coming from.
2. Are they consistent or on-again-off-again?
3. When are the wind speeds the strongest? How strong are they?
4. Are there any differences in the winds with different seasons?
5. Are there any differences in the winds as you go downriver?
6. Do you notice any changes in the winds at major confluences such as the
lcr?
Visibility in Grand Canyon: Have you noticed any changes in visibility associated with changes in wind direction or wind speed? What wind speed and wind direction is associated with (1) the best visibility? (2) the worst visibility? Is there a particular month/season when visibility is best or worst? Comments?
Air Temperature and Humidity in Grand Canyon: Considering the seasons you have been in the Canyon (please indicate them), have you noticed any clear downriver trends in air temperature and/or humidity during a particular season? Which season has the most noticeable (e.g. strongest) downriver change in (1) temperature? (2) humidity? Which season has the least noticeable downriver change in (1) temperature? (2) humidity?
Have you noticed local variations in the temperature and/or humidity on beaches (up to 100 vertical feet above the river)? Please describe these variations (at particular reaches or in general) and include site characteristics such as topography, vegetation quantity and type, and Canyon wall geometry. Further comments?
Unusual Weather Events: Have you noticed any ‘unusual weather events’ in the Canyon such as temperature inversions, fog or low clouds, snow at river level, lightning striking the bottom of the Canyon, hail, dew, or extremely strong gusting winds? What about particularly dry or wet or hot or cold (etc.) years? Please describe the event(s) and, if possible, put a date on the event(s).
Please send me a letter or call me at: Molly Pohl, Dept. of Geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-0104. Phone: (602) 965-7533. If you are sending a letter, please indicate how long you’ve been a river guide and what months you are usually on the river. You can write anonymously. However, if you would like to be interviewed, please provide your name and daytime phone number.
Thanks for your interest and for your responses!
Molly Pohl
