Climate is a dominant factor driving the physical and ecologic processes affecting the Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network (CHDN). This project was initiated to inventory past and present climate monitoring efforts in the CHDN. In this report, the authors provide the following information: Overview of broad-scale climatic factors and zones important to CHDN park units. Inventory of weather and climate station locations in and near CHDN park units relevant to the NPS I&M Program. Results of an inventory of metadata on each weather station, including affiliations for weather-monitoring networks, types of measurements recorded at these stations, and information about the actual measurements (length of record, etc.). Initial evaluation of the adequacy of coverage for existing weather stations and recommendations for improvements in monitoring weather and climate.

The purpose of this report is to determine the current status of weather and climate monitoring within North Coast and cascades Network (NCCN). In this report, the authors provide the following informational elements: Overview of broad-scale climatic factors and zones important to NCCN park units; Inventory of locations for all weather stations in and near NCCN park units that are relevant to the NPS I&M networks; Results of metadata inventory for each station, including weather-monitoring network affiliations, types of recorded measurements, and information about actual measurements (length of record, etc.); and Initial evaluation of the adequacy of coverage for existing weather stations and recommendations for improvements in monitoring weather and climate.