They Call it A Rainforest-Because in Redwood National Park it Rains alot.
We have had quite a week of rain in Redwood National Park. Many spring-breakers are discovering the ‘fun’ of camping in the rainforest. And the people staying at the Elk Meadow Cabins are glad they are not . . . .
People ask me often at Redwood Adventures,” when is the best time to see the Redwoods?” I personally love them all year-but the best time to get the “redwood experience’ is during the wet season. Many people think that here on the north coast that the wet season is all year (and it kind of is), but I consider it to be from November to April.
Redwood National and State Parks are located in a Temperate Rainforest.
What is a Temperate Rainforest?
According to Roseanne Weir: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/jason/xv/docs/TempRain.pdf
“Temperate rainforests are formed in the Pacific Northwest because the coastal mountain ranges in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California trap the air masses full of moisture that rise from the Pacific Ocean. As this moisture condenses into rain it creates lush rainforests with trees like the Coastal Redwood in California that grow to enormous sizes and a biomass that exceeds that of the tropical
rainforests.”
“Temperate rainforests receive from 1,500 to 5,000 millimeters (60 to 200 inches) of rain a year. In California, the rainfall is closer to the lower end of the range and there is even a concern about drought in
the summer months. The climate is mild (temperate) because the same mountains that block the ocean moisture help protect the rainforest from extremes in the weather. There are two seasons in the temperate rainforest; one long, wet season where the temperatures rarely drop to freezing and one short dry season when the temperatures rarely exceed 80. Even in the dry season the climate is cool and cloud-covered with fog providing the necessary moisture to nourish the rainforest. Fog provides about 175-3,000 millimeters (7-12 inches) of rain each summer. Temperate rainforests cover only 75 million acres of earth.”
For more information about Temperate Rainforests and Redwood National and State Parks :
Redwood National and State Parks
http://www.nps.gov/redw
This is the home page for the Redwood National and State parks, part of the National Parks Service web site. A general description is provided about the redwood parks. By clicking on the “In Depth”
button, detailed information is provided. Maps, Frequently Asked Questions, information about the trees, a photo gallery, and on-line games about the redwoods for kids is available.
See you in the Redwoods!
Grant Roden