Alexis Everland

ENVL 2105
Term Project Part 1

EVALUATION OF THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK

Part I: Displaying and interpreting climate data
I chose the five locations of Lake Placid, New York City, Montauk, Oswego, and Walton to display
the different climates found in New York State and how different regions are impacted by different
factors. I Chose lake placid because it is at a high elevation of 591.3 m above sea level, higher than all of
the other locations by at least about 150m. It is also at a high latitude. I chose New York City because it
is a large city and I wanted to see if the heat island effect or pollution could possibly effect the climate. It
is also located at a much lower latitude. I chose Montauk because it is located on the outer edge of Long
Island and wanted to see how its costal location effected its climate. Oswego is located on the edge of
Lake Ontario but is inland and I wanted to see how being located to this large body of water effected its
climate. Walton is located interiorly located and I wanted to see how that effected the climate found
there.

Lake Placid Climograph

25 20
18
20
16
15 14
Avg Temp (C)

Precip. (cm)
10 12
10
5 8

0 6
4
-5
2
-10 0

Month
PRECIP (cm) AVG TMP (°C)

As expected, Lake Placid’s temperatures are generally lower than the other locations due to its
high elevation and high latitude. Its precipitation is generally higher during the summer months than the
other locations as well.
 New York City Climograph
25 20
18
20
16
15 14
Avg. Temp. (C)

Precip. (cm)
10 12
10
5 8
0 6
4
-5
2
-10 0

Month
PRECIP (cm) AVG TMP (°C)

As expected, New York City experiences much higher temperatures due to the heat island effect
and its lower latitude. Possibly also because of its coastal location low elevation.

Montauk Climograph

25 20
18
20
16
15 14
Avg. Temp. (C)

Precip. (cm)
10 12
10
5 8
0 6
4
-5
2
-10 0

Month
PRECIP (cm) AVG TMP (°C)

The temperature in Montauk are similar to New York City possibly because it is around the same
latitude. But the temperatures are slightly higher in the winter, and slightly lower in the summer,
possibly because of the temperature being regulated by the ocean or lower elevation because of coastal
location low elevation.
 Oswega Climograph
25 20
18
20
16
15 14
Avg. Temp. (C)

Precip. (cm)
12
10
10
5
8

0 6
4
-5
2
-10 0

Month
PRECIP (cm) AVG TMP (°C)

The temperatures in Oswega are generally lower, possibly because it is located at a higher
latitude and possibly because Lake Ontario reaches very far North and might be generally colder causing
the area to be colder. Precipitation seems to be higher in the autumn months as well.

Walton Climograph
25 20
18
20
16
15
Avg. Temp. (C)

14

Precip. (cm)
10 12
10
5 8
0 6
4
-5
2
-10 0

Month

PRECIP (cm) AVG TMP (°C)

Walton experiences temperatures in the summer that are similar to lake placid, and
temperatures in the winter that are slightly higher than Lake Placid. This could because of its interior
location or higher latitude.
Part II: Displaying and interpreting Ecoregion Data
Level I Ecoregions of NY

Level 1 Ecoregions Sum of Area (SqMi) %

EASTERN TEMPERATE FORESTS 33623.4386 69.15161

NORTHERN FORESTS 14999.34447 30.84839

Grand Total 48622.78307 100

Eastern temperate forests consist mostly of deciduous trees that lose their leaves annually, such as
oak, maple, beech, and elm, during autumn. They experience warm, moist summers and mild winters.
They have decent canopy coverage in the summer, a shedding period in autumn, a dormant period in
the winter and spring ephemerals in the spring. This cycle is responsible for the high nutrient content of
the soil found in these places.

Northern forests are over 80% forested and dominated by conifers with deciduous trees toward the
south. They experience long, cold winters and short, warm summers. They generally consist of forested
hills, lakes and places of shallow soil with exposed bedrock.

Level II Ecoregions of NY

Level 2 Ecoregions Sum of AreaSqMi %

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS 14999.34447 30.84839

MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL AND SOUTHEAST USA COASTAL PLAINS 868.292123 1.785772

MIXED WOOD PLAINS 31702.32853 65.20056

OZARK/OUACHITA-APPALACHIAN FORESTS 854.40217 1.757205

SOUTHEASTERN USA PLAINS 198.415773 0.408072

Grand Total 48622.78307 100

The climate data shows moderate seasonal temperatures and moderate precipitation supports
Northern Forests and Eastern Temperate Forests. The latitude of the state causes the seasonal changes
in the deciduous forests found in NY. NY’s placement on the coast and the climate there allows for the
coastal plains to exist in this state on Long Island.
Part III: Displaying and interpreting soils data
 Spodosols are found in the Atlantic highland, northeastern forest. This is because conifer trees
dominate these forests. This is where lake placid is found. The climate is colder here and this area is at a
higher latitude and elevation. Inceptisols and Alfisols mainly make up the rest of the state because
Alfisols occur under forests and inceptisols have a wide range of characteristics mostly due to moderate
development and weathering. Some histosols occur up north due to wet mucky lands found there.
Ultisols occur south west that form from intense weathering and leaching from being in humid areas
with high precipitation. Entisols are found around Walton and New York City. They form when erosion
and deposition occur faster than soil development. They are found in areas of mixed wood plains and
south eastern US plains. Rolling hills found in these plains can cause the Entisols to form.

Part IV: Calculating evapotranspiration and connecting to climate

Lake PLacid P-ET=Q

14

12

10

8
cm water

-2

Month

P ET Q
 NYC P-ET=Q
20

15

10
cm water

-5

Month

P ET Q

Montauk P-ET=Q
16
14
12
10
8
cm water

6
4
2
0
-2
-4
-6

Month

P ET Q
 Oswego P-ET=Q
15

10

5
cm water

-5

-10

Month

P ET Q

Walton P-ET=Q
14

12

10

8
cm water

-2

Month

P ET Q
 In generally all of the P,ET,Q graphs show a dip in evapotranspiration and a rise in streamflow in
the winter and fall months. They also show a rise in evapotranspiration and a dip in streamflow in the
spring and summer months. This is because of the seasonal climate of New York State, due to its
latitude. The deciduous plants and trees begin to flourish during the spring and summer months causing
the spike in evapotranspiration. That means there is less water in the ground and subsequently a lower
streamflow. When the trees shed during the fall and winter months they do not transpire nearly as
much so more of the water from precipitation becomes streamflow.