Variations in climatic characteristics as related to evapotranspiration in South Park, central Park County, Colorado

Data collected from May through September in 1977, 1978, and 1979 at three stations were analyzed using an analysis of variance technique to determine variations in climatic characteristics in South Park, Colo. Knowledge of these climatic characteristics will aid in determining the amount of water that may be transferred from agricultural use in South Park to municipal use in the Denver metropolitan area. Daily minimum air temperature, daily average air temperature, cumulative wind, daily relative humidity, and daily solar radiation were statistically different between the three stations at the 1-percent level of significance. Daily maximum air temperature and daily pan evaporation were not significantly different between some stations. Daily precipitation was not significantly different between the three stations. Estimates of potential evapotranspiration made using the Penman equation were not significantly different between the three stations. The lack of spatial variations in the estimated potential evapotranspiration shows that no one climatic characteristic can be used as an indicator of spatial variation of potential evapotranspiration. Large variations in solar radiation between the three stations indicate that solar radiation needs to be measured at sites where evapotranspiration is being determined. (USGS)