Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Climate & Clouds of the Salar

The Salar de Uyuni can be classified as a cold desert climate, or BWk on the Köppen climate classification scale. The area experiences relatively cold temperatures and little rainfall.  BWk climates have irregular/unreliable rainfall, higher diurnal temperature ranges, and windy conditions.


The Salar experiences two different seasons: the rainy season and the dry season The dry season, characterized by its cold temperatures and wind, occurs from June to September and sees very low levels of precipitation if any at all, as shown in the graph below. Temperatures range between about  0 and 15 degrees Celsius and hit the higher of the range when the sun is at its zenith. In the afternoon, the Salar reaches maximum insolation. When the sun goes down the temperature decreases significantly. At night it can easily reach -15 degrees Celsius. 
Climograph for Uyuni, Bolivia
During the rainy season, temperature averages slightly increase.  The Salar has a higher saturation quantity at this time. It can be speculated that the humidity increases because the warm air can hold more water vapor. The rainy season occurs from approximately October to April.
This graph clearly depicts the rainy season and dry season in the Salar.

The higher level of relative rainfall during the rainy season causes the Salar to flood, because it is a closed draining basin, and this creates a mirrored image on the surface. This phenomenon gives the landscape a moderate albedo. During the dry season, the bright white surface of the salt, much like snow, gives the Salar a very high albedo.

Rainy season in the Salar.
Dry season in the Salar.
After a rain, when there is little wind and clear skies, radiation fog is common. This fog is created as the ground is chilled by long wave radiation. The surrounding air is cooled by convection till dewpoint is reached and then the fog is formed.  The Salar de Uyuni is also home to very diverse cloud formations. Below, one can view Altocumulus and Altostratus clouds.




Works Cited:
  • http://www.altiplanoextreme.com/climbing/uyuni.htm
  • http://whatstheweatherlike.org/bolivia/salar-de-uyuni.htm
  • http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162271/


Images:
  • http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Uyuni-weather-averages/Potosi/BO.aspx
  • http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Koppen_World_Map_BWk.png
  • http://planetden.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/dryness-Salar-de-Uyuni.jpg
  • http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/salar-de-uyuni-after-some-rain-bolivia-salt-flats.jpg
  • http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7033/6664479157_6b1049914d_z.jpg

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