The National Park Service is undergoing a comprehensive inventory effort under the Natural Resource Challenge program. Under this challenge, the Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program of the National Park Service is charged with acquiring information needed by national park managers in their efforts to maintain park ecosystem integrity. Meteorological data comprises one category of basic information required through this effort. However, the meteorological data typically collected in parks consist only of basic parameters such as precipitation and daily temperature, and are often collected at a single location within the park.

The Sonoran Desert Network I&M consists of eleven national parks and monuments located in southern Arizona. The largest of the parks, Saguaro National Park, currently is collecting meteorological data in two locations in the 27,000 ha eastern unit of the park. This unit encompasses the Rincon Mountain complex, ranging in elevation from 800 m to over 2600 m.

Better baseline data enhances scientifically sound management decisions. A greater understanding of the fine-scale meteorological conditions at Saguaro-East would enhance understanding of wildlife movement patterns, fire behavior, hydrologic resources, and potential spread of exotic species. A pilot project to identify climate monitoring needs and options within Saguaro-East will begin in fall, 2003. Six to ten temporary weather stations will be deployed across the complex topography of the park to provide insight into the spatial and temporal patterns of climate within the park management unit. This project will provide a valuable baseline for park management and may highlight unique spatial and temporal patterns that deserve further investigation. In addition, individual stations will be evaluated relative to the existing RAWS stations to locate new long-term climate monitoring sites. This poster will highlight findings and data collected to-date.