Rather, Berkeley is surrounded by the ocean and mountains, which are the factors that have a primary affect on the differences between the two areas' water budgets.
WATER BUDGET for TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA (Figure 2)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
P
7.4
6.8
9.6
9.4
10.1
10.2
8.1
8.2
8.7
6.9
8.4
7.5
PE
0.0
0.0
1.8
4.9
10.2
13.4
15.8
13.8
9.9
5.2
1.7
0.1
P-PE
7.4
6.8
7.8
4.5
0.1
-3.2
-7.7
-5.6
-1.2
1.7
6.7
7.4
Change in ST
0
0
0
0
0
-3.2
-4.5
0
0
1.7
6.7
2.6
ST
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
6.8
2.3
0
0
1.7
8.4
10
AE
7.4
6.8
9.6
4.5
0.1
-3.2
-7.7
8.2
8.7
6.9
6.7
7.4
D
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.6
1.2
0
0
0
S
0
0
0
4.9
10.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
Terre Haute, Indiana presents much different conditions than Berkeley, California. These differences in conditions are what affect each individual water budget. Terre Haute is a mid-latitude continental climate and sits at 39°28'00.13" N, 87°24'50.07" W. it's elevation is much higher than that of Berkeley's, being about 491 ft above sea level. This altitude change then affects...
Terre Haute is far from major mountain ranges, so there is less water transport through run off and snow melt. However, the mountain ranges to the west and south block cold air from leaving the region. According to research, "Moist ocean air masses are blocked by mountain ranges to the west and south. These mountain ranges also trap polar air in winter, making winters very cold," (Schaffner & Robinson 2010). These cold winters are much different than the mild, wet one seen in Berkeley. Since it snows heavily in the winter months, precipitation includes not only rain, but also snow and sleet.
"The agricultural Midwest, however, receives approximately 15 inches per year," (University of Illinois 2010). The weather in the Midwest in the summer is extremely hot and humid. The humidity comes from tropical oceanic air flowing from the south in the Gulf of Mexico (University of Illinois 2010). This humidity means that more water is acquired in Terra Haute in the summer months than the more arid California region. The area is also subject to droughts in the summer. However, the cold water has an effect on the soil density of the area. With frosts in winter come a freezing of the soil, hindering it from absorbing as much water as the Berkeley soil does in the winter and early spring. In many areas around the Midwest are subject to flooding because of this occurrence, and so precipitation is transported to other regions, where in California, it is absorbed more into the soil. Research states that "Flooding is very common during winter and early spring because the frozen ground has no permeability, causing most rainwater and melt water to become runoff," (Schaffner & Robinson 2010). Thus, although Terre Haute holds more water in the summer, when it accumulates water through the wet, humid conditions, the winter season sees less water acquisition.
References
Ritter, Michael. (2006). The water balance. The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography. Retrieved February 28, 2010 from http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/hydrosphere/water_balance_1.html
Schaffner, Brynn & Robinson, Kenneth. (2009). World climates. Blue Planet Biomes. Retrieved February 28, 2010 from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm
University of Illinois. (2010). The Hydrologic Cycle. Retrieved February 28, 2010 from http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/home.rxml
