Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Late Summer 2019_High Knob Massif

August 16, 2019
High Knob Massif
Looking Across Head of Big Cherry Lake Basin
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved


 August 16, 2019
High Knob Massif
Looking Down Middle of Big Cherry Lake Basin
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Downpours of rains in mid-August have broken a stretch of mostly dry conditions during the first half of August 2019, in radical contrast to the wetness of June-July.
Monthly Total Precipitation
Big Cherry Lake Dam
(Elevation 3139 feet)

January
6.14"

February
12.50"

March
5.93"

April
6.64"

May
6.75"

June
10.68"

July
10.77"

August
4.15"

Summer 2019
(Jun 1-Aug 31)
25.60"

*2019 Total: 63.56" (M)
 (January 1 to August 31 Period)

12-Month Total: 91.20" (M)

(M): Some missing moisture in undercatch and frozen precipitation, with partial corrections applied for the 24.4 meter (80 feet) tall dam structure where rain gauges are located.

August 16, 2019
High Knob Massif
Looking Across High Knob Lake Basin
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 Temperatures_Summer 2019

Abundant summer rainfall and clouds have kept air temperatures significantly cooler in the high country of the High Knob Massif, with latent heat fluxes related to the evapotranspiration of water ruling the surface energy budget.  A review of mesonet data from the University Of Virginia's College At Wise Undergraduate Research Program illustrates this very well.

High Knob Lake
Elevation 1074 Meters ( 3523 feet )

June 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 68.4 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 54.3 degrees
MEAN: 61.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 78 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 39 degrees

July 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 73.2 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 59.7 degrees
MEAN: 66.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 79 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 49 degrees

August 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 73.2 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 57.6 degrees
MEAN: 65.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 79 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 49 degrees

*University Of Virginia's College At Wise Research Station,
National Weather Service calibrated temperature sensor,
( Data Period: November 19, 2016 to Present ).

Summer 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 71.6 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 57.2 degrees
MEAN: 64.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 79 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 39 degrees

August 20, 2019
Towering Cumulus Above High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Eagle Knob Peak
Elevation 1276 Meters ( 4188 feet )

June 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 65.6 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 55.1 degrees
MEAN: 60.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 74 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 43 degrees

July 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 70.3 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 61.4 degrees
MEAN: 65.8 degrees
Highest Temperature: 76 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 51 degrees

August 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 70.0 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 59.9 degrees
MEAN: 65.0 degrees
Highest Temperature: 77 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 51 degrees

*University Of Virginia's College At Wise Research Station,
National Weather Service calibrated temperature sensor,
( Data Period: November 12, 2016 to Present ).

Summer 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 68.6 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 58.8 degrees
MEAN: 63.7 degrees
Highest Temperature: 77 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 43 degrees

 In the head of Big Cherry Lake wetland valleys, 
the highest summer temperatures have reached 
upper 70s to lower 80s.
August 20, 2019
High Knob Massif
Towering Cumulus Above Pickem Mountain
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Head Big Cherry Valley
Elevation 990 Meters ( 3248 feet )

June 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 67.5 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 53.7 degrees
MEAN: 60.6 degrees
Highest Temperature: 77 degrees
**Lowest Temperature: 39 degrees
(**Lower-middle 30s in colder portions of wetland valleys)

July 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 72.0 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 58.5 degrees
MEAN: 65.2 degrees
Highest Temperature: 78 degrees
**Lowest Temperature: 47 degrees
(**Lower 40s in colder portions of wetland valleys)

August 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 72.0 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 56.5 degrees
MEAN: 64.2 degrees
Highest Temperature: 79 degrees
**Lowest Temperature: 48 degrees
(**Lower-middle 40s in colder portions of wetland valleys)

*University Of Virginia's College At Wise Research Station,
National Weather Service calibrated temperature sensor,
( Data Period: November 11, 2016 to Present ).

Summer 2019
Average Daily Maximum: 70.5 degrees
Average Daily Minimum: 56.2 degrees
MEAN: 63.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 79 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 39 degrees


UVA-Wise
Undergraduate Field Studies
First Field Trip of Autumn 2019 Semester

31 August 2019
Flag Rock Green Salamander Sanctuary
Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus)
Photograph by Rachel Guevara - © All Rights Reserved

It took less than 5-minutes to find two 
Green Salamanders for illustration purposes.

31 August 2019
Flag Rock Green Salamander Sanctuary
Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea)
Photograph by Rachel Guevara - © All Rights Reserved

This is a Saddleback Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea), with stimulea being a very appropriate species name as you will certainly be stimulated if touching this little fellow.

31 August 2019
Pickem Mountain of High Knob Massif
Early Signs of Autumn From Flag Rock RA
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

The first hints of autumn are beginning to show in the high country, above 3000 feet, despite a continuation of summery weather (nights have been cooler).

31 August 2019
Beautiful Light From High Knob Lookout
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

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