Rocky Mountains NEON | NSF NEON | Open Data to Understand our Ecosystems

Due to elevational changes, the climate of Southern Rockies is characterized by dramatic differences in precipitation and temperature over very short distances. In general, precipitation decreases and temperature increases with a decrease in elevation. The summer months at RMNP are typically in the 20-27°C (68-80°F) range during the day and colder temperatures at night around 4°C (39°F). The higher elevation areas at the park above 2865 m (9400 ft.) can see light snow and colder temperatures during the summer. In the winter months temperatures can get as cold as -37°C (-35°F), but the lower elevation areas at RMNP typically don’t have accumulations of heavy snow. The higher elevation areas at the park tend to experience blizzards and deep snowpack. At the RMNP site, the mean annual temperature is 2.9°C (37°F) and the mean annual precipitation is 736 mm (29 in.). High winds, blizzards, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in the region. [4] [12] [13]

The geology at this site is dominated by granite and granodiorite from the Mesoproterozoic age. [2] [3]

The soil order found at the Rocky Mountain National Park site is mollisol, a soil family characterized as loamy-skeletal - mixed - superactive Ustic haplocryolls. [1]

Open water only makes up 0.02 km² (5 acres) or 0.03% of the total land cover at NEON's site at RMNP. Evergreen forest covers 71.28 km² (17,614 acres) of the site which totals 90.25% of the total land cover. [1]

The dominant vegetation in the lower elevation areas of RMNP are characteristic of the lower montane ecosystem and include an open canopy of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), juniper (Juniperus sp.), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Higher elevation vegetation has a tighter canopy dominated by Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var.latifolia). Stands of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) are scattered through the landscape. [1]

Mammals common to this area include the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), beaver (Castor Canadensis), rocky mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadensis), black bear (Ursus americanus), elk (Cervus canadensis), yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), coyote (Canis latrans), moose (Alces alces), mountain lion (Puma concolor), pika (Ochotona princeps), and the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Collectively 67 mammal species are known to be native to the area. Over 270 species of birds have been reported in the national park including the white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), the three-toed woodpecker (Picoides Dorsalis), and the western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). Native fish include the endangered greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and the Colorado River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus). NEON collects data at this site on small mammals, birds, mosquitoes, beetles, and ticks. Some of the target small mammal species include the red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi), the montane vole (Microtus montanus), and the North American deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). [1] [6] [7]

In the 1700s, the indigenous Ute Tribe inhabited the area now known as Rocky Mountain National Park. In 1803, the U.S. government completed the Louisiana Purchase, which included land that would later be turned into the national park. During the late 1800s a gold rush brought miners, ranchers, and homesteaders to Colorado. By the early 1900s the area was known for its beautiful landscapes and abundant wildlife, and in 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park was officially named the 10th national park in the U.S. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps was created as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal." This program employed people to build roads, trails, and structures at the national park, along with wildfire mitigation and wildlife management. By the 1960s the park became extremely popular and management of visitors became a priority. Today, the park sees millions of visitors every year ranging from scientists, bird watchers, fishermen, campers, photographers, and day hikers. [8] [9]

Land on which NEON's RMNP site sits is managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service. NPS manages 419 separate sites in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. NPS also manages national monuments, battlefields, preserves, parkways, scenic trails, and seashores. Several Universities are currently conducting research at Rocky Mountain National Park including Metropolitan State University of Denver and Colorado State University, studying topics of glacial change, noise and light pollution, biota, and ice patch archaeology and paleoecology. [10] [11]

The TIS tower started collecting data in 2014. TOS plot establishment was completed and observational sampling was initiated in 2017.