Monday, December 4, 2017

Early Winter 2017_High Knob Massif Area


December 16, 2017
Winter Wonderland At High Knob Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

History Of Christmases Past 
 A 54-Year History ( 1963-2016 )

 *ArcGIS Statistical Probability Map For The United States

December 2, 2017
Water Elevation 3520 Feet
Reflections On High Knob Lake
High Knob Lake Recreation Area

Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Meteorological winter opened seasonally mild with afternoon maximums reaching the 40s to mid 50s in the high country of the High Knob Massif.

December 2, 2017
Big Stony Creek of Clinch River
High Knob Lake Special Biological Area
Mirror-like Reflections On High Knob Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

This was the final field trip of Autumn 2017 for the Field Studies In Microclimatology research class at UVA-Wise.  Although no snow was to be found, 
many beautiful scenes were still observed. 

December 2, 2017
View Rotated by 180 degrees
Rotated View - Reflections On High Knob Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved


Maximum temperatures occurred during early afternoon, with local sunset having already occurred at High Knob Lake by 3:40 PM when this data was downloaded.

*Local sunset is defined as the time in which the sun drops beneath the mountain horizon, and during this low sun angle period of the year often occurs during early-mid afternoon in mountain valleys to significantly 
shorten the amount of insolational heating.


High Knob Lake
November 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 48.3 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 32.0 degrees
MEAN: 40.2 degrees
Highest Temperature: 62 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 20 degrees

December 2, 2017
Upper Tennessee River Basin
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

There were 3 days during November with 1" or more 
of snow on the ground from Eagle Knob into the High Knob Lake Basin, with 7 days featuring rime formation.  Precipitation was well below average with just over 3.00" falling during the month.

Eagle Knob of High Knob
November 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 46.2 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 34.5 degrees
MEAN: 40.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 60 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 19 degrees

November 2017 was a relatively windy month in the Cumberland Mountains, with much vertical mixing that frequently disrupted nocturnal temperature drops in mountain valleys within upper elevations ( i.e., many nights featured periods with rapid falls-rises ).

 December 2, 2017
South Fork of Powell River
Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Big Cherry Valley 4
November 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 51.6 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 28.8 degrees
MEAN: 40.2 degrees
Highest Temperature: 67 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 16.8 degrees

November was the first month in 2017 with average nightly low temperatures that were at least 1.0 degree above Burkes Garden ( 27.5 degree average November MIN ) at Big Cherry Valley 4.

 December 2, 2017
Upper Tennessee River Basin
Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

December 2, 2017
Pristine Water Quality
Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

American Beaver activity has kicked into high gear during the past month, perhaps they can sense the major shift into winter upcoming for the mountain region.

*Sphagnum filled wetland valleys and a lack of logging are critical to maintaining this beautiful water that flows into Big Cherry Lake, the major water source for the mountain area.

December 2, 2017
Pristine Water Quality
Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 2, 2017
Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 2, 2017
Big Cherry Lake Wetland Valley
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 2, 2017
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Large Beaver Dam - Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 2, 2017
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Large Beaver Dam - Big Cherry Wetland Valley
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 3, 2017
Super Moon Above The Cumberland
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved


Wintry December Conditions

December 16, 2017
High Country of High Knob Massif
Snow Covered State Route 619 At Camp Rock
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Numerous roads remained snow and ice covered in the high country of the High Knob Massif on December 16, despite loss of at least a couple inches or more of snow depth since the max was observed on December 13.

 December 16, 2017
High Country of High Knob Massif
Snow Covered Roadway On Eagle Knob
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved
Eagle Knob of High Knob
December 1-16, 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 35.9 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 22.9 degrees
MEAN: 29.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 52 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 7 degrees

December 6-16 Period
Average MAX: 28.2 degrees
Average MIN: 16.6 degrees
MEAN: 22.4 degrees

 A December snowfall total of 4" to 5" is running much below average, with this area missing the southern snow maker that blanketed a corridor from the Gulf Coast northeast into eastern Virginia.  Local snow coming mostly from brief Great Lake moisture transport on WNW-NW upslope flow ( limited advection acting to limit amounts at this latitude ).

 December 16, 2017
High Country of High Knob Massif
Snow Covered Roadway On Eagle Knob
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Mammal and bird tracks were abundant in the snow.

December 16, 2017
Eagle Knob Junction With The Nettle Patch
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

High Knob Lake was like a winter wonderland with both the wetland and lake frozen from sub-freezing temperatures which ruled the December 6-16 period.

December 16, 2017
Frozen High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

High Knob Lake
December 1-16, 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 38.5 degrees
*Average Daily MIN: 23.2 degrees
MEAN: 30.8 degrees
Highest Temperature: 53 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 11 degrees

*Average low temperatures have been colder 
within high valleys of Big Cherry Lake Basin.

 December 16, 2017
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Beneath A Majestic Canadian Hemlock
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

This was the designated Christmas Bird Count day
and I was privileged to accompany UVA-Wise History
Professor Donald Leech and his wife Michelle for
part of this trip in the high country.

Randy Stanley tallied 51 different bird species recorded by a dozen or so 
folks counting across Wise County into extreme northern Scott County.

December 16, 2017
Frozen Wetland At High Knob Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

A notable inversion and gusty winds across the top of the high country appeared to restrict much bird activity, in addition to making it difficult to hear them, with even raptors staying mainly inside protection of forest cover.

 December 16, 2017
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Frozen Wetland At High Knob Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 16, 2017
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Frozen Wetland At High Knob Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 16, 2017
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Shallow Water In Frozen Wetland
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 December 16, 2017
Water Elevation 3520 feet
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Frozen Bank to Bank - Upper Portion of Lake
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

The Upper Norton Reservoir was ice free on December 16, with the main difference being that it had a relatively steady inflow of water into the lake versus the dammed inflow, by American Beavers, at High Knob Lake. 

 Total precipitation from November 1-December 16 being 3.32" at the base of the massif in the City of Norton and around 4.50" on Eagle Knob at the summit level. 

December 16, 2017
Water Elevation 3318 feet
Upper Norton Reservoir of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved


High Wind Event
( December 23, 2017 )

State Route 619 - High Knob Massif
Miles & Miles Of Debris Covered Roads
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

A high wind event, featuring 50+ mph wind gusts, produced many miles of debris covered roads across the high country of the High Knob Massif on December 23.  The above photograph being a typical view.

 Larger trees completely blocked numerous roads and had to be cut out.  Reference the Appalachian Climate Center for more details about this event, which was not officially forecast until after it was already underway despite models clearly predicting low-level jet formation along the western side of the Appalachians.


Upslope Fog & Freezing Fog

December 24, 2017 ( AM )
High Country of High Knob Massif
Rime Coated Hawthorns ( Crataegus spp. )
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

In the above view Hawthorn ( Crataegus spp. ) trees, which here are Pleistocene relicts, are coated by an icy, glassy-type of rime which underwent deposition at temperatures in the 28-32 degree range.

A prolonged period of upslope fog turned to freezing fog at high elevations into Christmas Eve day.

 Lonesome Pine Airport In Wise

 Despite the Holiday, and impacts to the busy U.S. 23 corridor, this was also not outlooked by the National Weather Service.  Another neglected aspect of local climatology that I have shown is predictable up to a 
couple days, or more at times, in advance.

 December 24, 2017
Whitewater Roars In South Fork Gorge
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Beneath the cloud deck, amid depths of South Fork Gorge, whitewater was loud as it churned through this boulder filled gem in wake of significant 
pre-Christmas rainfall.


White Christmas 2017

December 25, 2017
University Of Virginia's College At Wise

Accumulating snow decorated the mountain landscape along and north of the High Knob Massif and Tennessee Valley Divide into Christmas morning.

Superintendent Andrew Greear, of the City of Norton Water Plant, reported 1.5" of snow at the northern base of the massif in Norton.  Rain initially fell in Norton prior to the change into snow, with all snow falling above 3000-3500 feet elevation.

This boosted 2017 precipitation to approximately 60.70" at Norton WP, sitting at 2342 feet above mean sea level ( 8" NWS rain gauge ).

Darlene & Joe Fields measured 2" of snow depth in the High Chaparral community of the massif on Christmas morning ( elevation 3300 feet ).  

 Approximately 2-3" of wind blown snow fell across the main crest zone, with depth variations from near bare ground on exposed surfaces to 4-6"+ in drifted areas.  
Wind chills reached -10 to -20 degrees below zero at 
highest elevations ( AM MIN in single digits with PM 
MAX only reaching the lower 10s on Eagle Knob ).

December 25, 2017
Heavy-Wind Blown Snow In Wise
University Of Virginia's College At Wise

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Sunday, November 5, 2017

Late Autumn 2017_High Knob Massif Area


November 4, 2017
Water Elevation 3120 feet
Big Cherry Lake of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 November 4, 2017
Upper Tennessee River Basin
Big Cherry Lake of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

November 4, 2017
Big Cherry Lake of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

October precipitation topped 8.00" in the high country of the High Knob Massif, pushing the 2017 precip tally to between 60.00" and 70.00" at upper elevations 
( 55.42" being hand-measured at the northern base 
of the massif in the City of Norton ).

Eagle Knob of High Knob
October 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 59.5 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 45.1 degrees
MEAN: 52.3 degrees
Highest Temperature: 72 degrees
*Lowest Temperature: 20 degrees

*A total of 44 consecutive hours with riming from 
1720 hours on 28 October to 1320 hours on 30 October.

November 4, 2017
Big Cherry Lake of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Big Cherry Wetland 2
October 2017 Temperatures

 Average Daily MAX: 62.2 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 40.5 degrees
MEAN: 51.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 73 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 23 degrees

 The month of October ended cold and wet, but the month on average was milder than average across 
the mountain region. 

Big Cherry Wetland 4
October 2017 Temperatures

 Average Daily MAX: 64.6 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 36.8 degrees
MEAN: 50.7 degrees
*Highest Temperature: 77 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 21 degrees

 *Coldest 24-hour MAX: 29 degrees

Vast expanses of sphagnum mosses cover the valley floor beneath many species of herbaceous and woody plants; although, upright trees of significant stature generally can grow only along the edges of these sphagnum filled wetlands.

November 4, 2017
Damp & Chilly In The High Country
Big Cherry Wetland Valley In The Clouds
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 While being very wet, of course, it is interesting to walk across spahagnum which gets very thick in places, forming mounds.

 Conditions were damp with upper elevations engulfed in clouds within the high country of the High Knob Massif during much of November 4.  Temperatures in the 50s were not cold, but did feel chilly in locations buffeted 
by gusty winds ( especially along mountain ridges ).

 November 4, 2017
Damp & Chilly In The High Country
Big Cherry Wetland Valley In The Clouds
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Big Cherry Wetland 1
October 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 63.6 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 39.0 degrees
MEAN: 51.3 degrees
Highest Temperature: 76 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 22 degrees

 November 4, 2017
Big Cherry Wetland Valley In The Clouds
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 Microclimates were on full display within the vertical, amid this complex mountain terrain on November 4, with conditions varying from winter-like in appearance within the high country of the massif to an abundance of tree leaves still sporting near peak color downward into depths of the great South Fork of Powell River Gorge.

 November 4, 2017
Upper Tennessee River Basin
South Fork Gorge of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 November 4, 2017
South Fork Gorge of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

A jagged cliff-line approximately marks the 3000 foot level, with increasingly bare trees above as the high country spreads outward for miles.

 November 4, 2017
South Fork Gorge of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved
Orographic Forcing Season
Interesting Days In Mountain Empire

 As often is the case, November has been a cloudy 
month with many hours spent amid clouds within 
upper elevations of the high country.

 November 12, 2017
Dense Fog In Orographic Clouds
Fog Shrouded High Knob Peak
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 Fog drip from trees and rime deposition and eventual drop from trees are very important secondary moisture sources which add significantly to the annual water budget of this already wet terrain.

 November 12, 2017
High Knob Peak of High Knob Massif
Dense Fog Within Orographic Clouds
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 November 12, 2017
Water Reflections Near The Cloud Deck
High Knob Lake of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

 Clouds were covering much of High Knob Lake basin, with the lake and adjacent wetland being barely beneath the cloud deck.  Just enough to capture a few "clear" photographs.
High Knob Lake
October 2017 Temperatures

Average Daily MAX: 60.7 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 41.5 degrees
MEAN: 51.1 degrees
Highest Temperature: 73 degrees
Lowest Temperature: 23 degrees

November 12, 2017
High Knob Lake Recreation Area
Beaver Dams Backing Up Water
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

November 12, 2017
High Knob Lake Recreation & Biological Area
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

A changeable mid-November weather pattern may for some interesting days as orographics began to dictate the nature of weather conditions observed.

November 13, 2017
Orographic Gravity Waves On NW Flow
Image Courtesy of MODIS

The High Knob Massif is a tectonic mountain and is 
part of a great geologic anticline which forms the most dominant structural feature of the famed Cumberland Overthrust Block. 

November 14, 2017
A Shift To NE-ENE Air Flow
Changing Wind Direction Changes Orographics
Image Courtesy of MODIS

MODIS ( Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ) is part of the NASA Terra Satellite System that includes ASTER ( Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission & Reflection Radiometer ).  MODIS has a rather course 250 meter resolution but a relatively short temporal resolution.

 ASTER has a variable, upon request temporal 
resolution, while MODIS scans the Earth daily.

November 18, 2017
Gravity Waves Form On Strong SW Winds

These images are from GOES-16 and show standing orographic waves forming on strong SW flow, with a couple of waves standing within very well documented climatological positions along the High Knob Massif 
( partially obscured by higher-level clouds ). 

November 18, 2017
1-Hour Later And Waves In Same Position
Gravity Waves Form On Strong SW Winds

There are two dominant zones in the southern Appalachians where SW flow exerts a major climatic influence upon the landscape, the High Knob Massif-Black Mountain corridor along the Virginia-Kentucky stateline and the area from the Great Smokies into southwestern North Carolina.

November 18, 2017
Favored Zones For SW Flow Orographic Forcing
Image Courtesy of MODIS

As demanded by the Law Of Continuity Of Mass, the influence of these dominant SW Upslope Flow zones extend into adjacent areas via forced subsidence of air as adjustment toward atmospheric equilibrium is sought. 

 November 19, 2017
Orographic Waves Generated On WNW Flow
Image Courtesy of MODIS

 While NW and SE-E flows have been extensively studied, these are not the only flows important to generating diverse, often dramatic weather 
contrasts across the Mountain Empire.

 Head of Powell Valley of High Knob Massif
Mostly Clear Skies On Thanksgiving 2017
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Frigid morning temperatures on Thanksgiving 2017 were observed in mountain valleys with readings varying from around 10 degrees in coldest valleys 
of the high country to around 20 degrees.

November 23, 2017
Head of Powell of High Knob Massif
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Although skies were mostly clear on Thanksgiving, some mid-level instability generated a few interesting patches of clouds.

November 23, 2017
Clouds Above Powell Valley Overlook
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Observe circular subsidence holes in the cloud patch below, with adjacent areas of more vertical mid-level cloud development.

November 23, 2017
Clouds Above Powell Valley Overlook
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Colorful Sunrise On November 25, 2017
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

Sunrises and sunsets typically have two main bursts of color separated by a period of less dramatic colorations, and this one was no exception.

Colorful Sunrise On November 25, 2017
Photograph by Wayne Browning - © All Rights Reserved

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