Dallas, Texas
Physical Geography of Dallas
Climate
Dallas is located in North Texas along the Trinity River. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this region is humid subtropical climate. Dallas experiences very hot summers and mild winters. The position of Dallas in relation to the Gulf of Mexico influences the climate in this region.
Temperature
Average: 64.2916667 °F
Range: 40 °F
Precipitation
Average: 3.41083333 inches/mo
Range: 2.77 inches
Factors that Affect Climate
Factors that Affect Precipitation
Winds
Dallas is a part of the Great Plains, which is one of the windiest areas of the country. The Great Plains are a hot spot for low pressure systems. In Dallas, pressure systems alternate between sub-tropical high and sub-polar low. During the summer months, high temperatures and low humidities contribute to westerly winds. The windiest times of the year are in winter and spring
Extreme Weather Events
Thunderstorms happen frequently throughout the year. Hail only falls two or three times a year with little damage. Windstorms occur during thunderstorms and can be quite destructive. Dallas lies at the lower end of Tornado Valley; therefore, tornados bear a threat to Dallas.
Biogeography
Dallas is considered a temperate grassland. Dallas is located in earths temperate zone, which lies between the tropical and polar zones.
Dallas is located in the Great Plains, which has a semi humid climate and rich soils that support the growth of tallgrass praires.
Vegetation is quite diverse as one acre of land can sustain one hundred different plant species. However, due to the conversion to agriculture, plant species diversity has started to decrease. Trees are very uncommon in the grasslands, shrublands, and savannas in this biome. Clusters of trees and scattered individual trees can be found near forested riparian areas.
Animals
- 51 species of reptiles
- 36 species of amphibians
- 54 species of mammals
- Some rare animals in Dallas include pronghorns, armadillos, and badgers.
- Eastern spotted skunks are a vulnerable mammal species in this region.
- The Black-footed ferret is the only endangered mammal species in Dallas.
- The Craw-fish frog is considered to be a near-threatened amphibian species (
Environmental Degradation
Air Quality is a severe environmental issue in North Texas. The two major air quality issues Dallas faces are ground level ozone and the emission of greenhouse gases. The DFW area meets five of the six criteria air pollutants set out by the EPA: lead, nitrogen dioxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. The sixth criteria, ozone, is the only air pollutant that does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Poor air quality and high levels of ozone can affect the well-being of humans and even lead to respiratory problems and other health conditions. High levels of ozone and other pollutants can also harm buildings and vegetation. A way to combat environmental degradation in Dallas is to switch to cleaner energy and make smarter choices.
Geology
The Dallas region is a prairie with many trees, rivers, and rolling hills. Dallas was founded at a ford of the Trinity River. The Trinity River is a major water way in this region. The Dallas area consists mainly of sediments from the Cretaceous age.
Dallas receives an “A” grade for low earthquake potential. This region is also considered to very low risk for tornadoes and medium risk for hurricane related damage.
Erosion
Dallas is located in the Blackland Praire ecoregion. This region is dominated by tall grasses and gets it name from the fertile black soil. If this region experiences a clear cutting of its trees, wind and water would cause erosion to occur more easily. Plowing for agriculture can also contribute to soil erosion.
Hydrology
Dallas uses water from six surface water sources, including Elm Fork of the Trinity River and Lakes Ray Roberts, Lewisville, Grapevine, Ray Hubbard, and Tawakoni. In the future, Dallas may use Lake Palestine and Lake Fork to obtain water. Although there is an aquifer beneath Dallas, well water has not been used in many years due to its poor quality.
Seasonal Patterns of Water Surplus and Deficit and How That affects ACTET and POTET
During the warmer months, such as May, June, and July, potential evapotranspiration is high due to the warm temperatures and proximity to the equator. Potential evapotranspiration is also higher on less cloudy days. In these warm months, there are higher levels of solar radiation which means higher energy for evapotranspiration which is why summer experiences a higher rate of ACTET than winter months. At warmer temperatures, plants can easily release more water vapor. In the winter, temperature decreases which causes evapotranspiration to decrease as well.
Modifications Made to Control Water Supply for Human Use
- In 2001, Dallas passed an ordinance restricting the time of day people can water their lawns using irrigation systems to conserve water.
- Since 2012, Dallas made a restriction that you can only water your lawn twice a week.
- Dallas offset a 10% population increase since 2001with conservation efforts that reduced average water usage per person by thirty percent.
- Dallas has already saved 19.4 million gallons of water a year through a program called “New Throne for your Home.” This program allows people to get old toilets on the city’s dime. This program also targets people who qualify for free plumbing repairs which saves the city approximately 3 million gallons of water a year.
- The city will also continue to evaluate policies affecting drainage and erosion and conditions related to drought to better implement actions to mitigate those and conserve water in the future.
Threats to Freshwater Supplies
By 2060, the population in Dallas is predicted to increase by eighty six percent. Water shortage bears a threat to this area, which is why the State Water Plan is recommending that North Texas take certain precautions, such as building an extra four reservoirs to accommodate for a higher population. Dallas experiences rainfall and rainfall on urban areas can lead to flood risks, decrease in groundwater, pollution, and greater irrigation demands. In about a century, agriculture is predicted to require fifty percent more water due to climate change and population increase which is also a threat to fresh water supply.
References
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US Department of Commerce, NOAA. DFW Climate Narrative. 15 Jan. 2017, www.weather.gov/fwd/dnarrative.
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