Environment of West Virginia
TheEnvironment of West Virginiaencompasses terrain and ecosystems ranging from plateaus to mountains. Most of West Virginia lies within theAppalachian mixed mesophytic forestsecoregion,while the higher elevations along the eastern border and in the panhandle lie within theAppalachian-Blue Ridge forests.[1]
West Virginia is situated in theAppalachian Mountainsof theUpper Southregion of the 48contiguous states.Usually considered part of theSouth Eastern United States,West Virginia is bounded on the northeast byPennsylvaniaandMaryland,on the southeast byVirginia,on the northwest byOhio,and on the southwest byKentucky.
A portion of theAppalachian Mountainsstretches into eastern West Virginia, and in Pendleton County near the eastern border,Spruce Knob,is officially regarded as the tallest mountain in theAllegheny Mountains,a vast section of the Appalachians.[2]West Virginia covers an area of 24,229.76 square miles (62,754.8 km2), with 24,077.73 square miles (62,361.0 km2) of land and 152.03 square miles (393.8 km2) of water, making it the 41st-largest state in the United States.[3]Generally, it is divided into four geographical regions:Ohio River Valley,Allegheny Plateau,Allegheny Highlands,andPotomac Section.[4]
Climate[edit]
| West Virginia state-wide averages | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The climate of West Virginia is generally ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen climate classificationCfa,exceptDfbat higher elevations) with warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters, increasing in severity with elevation. Some southern highland areas also have a mountain temperate climate (KöppenCfb) where winter temperatures are more moderate and summer temperatures are somewhat cooler. However, the weather is subject in all parts of the state to change. Thehardiness zonesrange from zone 5b in the centralAppalachian mountainsto zone 7a in the warmest parts of the lowest elevations.[5]
In the Eastern Panhandle and theOhio RiverValley, temperatures are warm enough to see and grow subtropical plants such as southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora),crepe myrtle,Albizia julibrissin,American sweetgumand even the occasionalneedle palmandsabal minor.These plants do not thrive as well in other parts of the state. Theeastern prickly peargrows well in many portions of the state.
Average January temperatures range from around 26 °F (−4 °C) near theCheat Riverto 41 °F (5 °C) along sections of the border with Kentucky. July averages range from 67 °F (19 °C) along theNorth Branch Potomac Riverto 76 °F (24 °C) in the western part of the state. It is cooler in the mountains than in the lower sections of the state.[6]The highest recorded temperature in the state is 112 °F (44 °C) atMartinsburgon July 10, 1936, and the lowest recorded temperature in the state is −37 °F (−38 °C) atLewisburgon December 30, 1917.
Annual precipitation ranges from less than 32 inches (810 mm) in the lower eastern section to more than 56 inches (1,400 mm) in higher parts of the Allegheny Front. Valleys in the east have lower rainfall because the Allegheny mountain ridges to the west create a partialrain shadow.Slightly more than half the rainfall occurs from April to September. Dense fogs are common in many valleys of theKanawhasection, especially theTygart Valley.West Virginia is also one of the cloudiest states in the nation, with the cities ofElkinsandBeckleyranking 9th and 10th in the U.S. respectively for the number of cloudy days per year (over 210). In addition to persistent cloudy skies caused by the damming of moisture by the Alleghenies, West Virginia also experiences some of the most frequent precipitation in the nation, withSnowshoeaveraging nearly 200 days a year with either rain or snow. Snow usually lasts only a few days in the lower sections but may persist for weeks in the higher mountain areas. An average of 34 inches (860 mm) of snow falls annually in Charleston, although during the winter of 1995–1996 more than three times that amount fell as several cities in the state established new records for snowfall. Average snowfall in the Allegheny Highlands can range up to 180 inches (4,600 mm) per year. Severe weather is somewhat less prevalent in West Virginia than in most other eastern states, and it ranks among the least tornado-prone states east of the Rockies.
Climate data[edit]
| Climate data forCharleston(Köppen Cfa) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
81 (27) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
108 (42) |
104 (40) |
96 (36) |
87 (31) |
80 (27) |
108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 68.2 (20.1) |
70.6 (21.4) |
79.1 (26.2) |
86.8 (30.4) |
88.8 (31.6) |
92.0 (33.3) |
93.9 (34.4) |
93.1 (33.9) |
90.1 (32.3) |
84.5 (29.2) |
77.3 (25.2) |
69.1 (20.6) |
95.3 (35.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.9 (6.6) |
47.8 (8.8) |
56.8 (13.8) |
69.4 (20.8) |
76.2 (24.6) |
83.1 (28.4) |
86.0 (30.0) |
85.2 (29.6) |
79.5 (26.4) |
68.7 (20.4) |
57.3 (14.1) |
47.5 (8.6) |
66.8 (19.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.0 (1.7) |
38.2 (3.4) |
46.0 (7.8) |
56.9 (13.8) |
64.7 (18.2) |
72.3 (22.4) |
75.8 (24.3) |
74.6 (23.7) |
68.3 (20.2) |
57.0 (13.9) |
46.4 (8.0) |
38.7 (3.7) |
56.2 (13.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.1 (−3.3) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
35.1 (1.7) |
44.5 (6.9) |
53.2 (11.8) |
61.5 (16.4) |
65.5 (18.6) |
64.1 (17.8) |
57.1 (13.9) |
45.3 (7.4) |
35.6 (2.0) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
45.5 (7.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 5.5 (−14.7) |
9.9 (−12.3) |
17.0 (−8.3) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
37.1 (2.8) |
48.8 (9.3) |
55.7 (13.2) |
54.1 (12.3) |
43.3 (6.3) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
20.6 (−6.3) |
12.9 (−10.6) |
2.3 (−16.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−12 (−24) |
−5 (−21) |
18 (−8) |
26 (−3) |
33 (1) |
46 (8) |
41 (5) |
32 (0) |
17 (−8) |
6 (−14) |
−17 (−27) |
−17 (−27) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 3.27 (83) |
3.36 (85) |
4.14 (105) |
3.56 (90) |
4.93 (125) |
4.72 (120) |
5.38 (137) |
3.75 (95) |
3.46 (88) |
2.91 (74) |
3.20 (81) |
3.56 (90) |
46.24 (1,174) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.3 (26) |
7.7 (20) |
5.9 (15) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
1.5 (3.8) |
5.0 (13) |
31.5 (80) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 14.8 | 13.7 | 14.8 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 12.8 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 14.2 | 151.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 7.6 | 6.2 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 23.9 |
| Source:NOAA[7][8] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forHuntington(Köppen Cfa) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
81 (27) |
92 (33) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
107 (42) |
103 (39) |
95 (35) |
86 (30) |
80 (27) |
108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.2 (6.2) |
47.3 (8.5) |
56.8 (13.8) |
68.8 (20.4) |
76.2 (24.6) |
83.3 (28.5) |
86.4 (30.2) |
85.5 (29.7) |
79.6 (26.4) |
68.6 (20.3) |
56.6 (13.7) |
46.7 (8.2) |
66.6 (19.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.8 (1.6) |
38.2 (3.4) |
46.4 (8.0) |
57.2 (14.0) |
65.2 (18.4) |
72.9 (22.7) |
76.4 (24.7) |
75.2 (24.0) |
68.7 (20.4) |
57.4 (14.1) |
46.6 (8.1) |
38.6 (3.7) |
56.5 (13.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.4 (−3.1) |
29.1 (−1.6) |
36.1 (2.3) |
45.5 (7.5) |
54.2 (12.3) |
62.4 (16.9) |
66.4 (19.1) |
64.8 (18.2) |
57.7 (14.3) |
46.1 (7.8) |
36.6 (2.6) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
46.3 (7.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) |
−24 (−31) |
−2 (−19) |
15 (−9) |
27 (−3) |
39 (4) |
46 (8) |
43 (6) |
29 (−2) |
16 (−9) |
4 (−16) |
−14 (−26) |
−24 (−31) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 3.10 (79) |
3.37 (86) |
4.16 (106) |
3.91 (99) |
4.51 (115) |
4.20 (107) |
5.08 (129) |
3.95 (100) |
3.16 (80) |
3.02 (77) |
3.07 (78) |
3.57 (91) |
45.10 (1,146) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.0 (15) |
5.8 (15) |
4.3 (11) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.5 (1.3) |
2.7 (6.9) |
19.8 (50) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.4 | 12.2 | 13.5 | 13.1 | 13.7 | 12.5 | 12.2 | 9.9 | 8.3 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 12.8 | 142.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 4.4 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 14.8 |
| Source:NOAA[9][10] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forMorgantown(Köppen Cfa/Dfa) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
102 (39) |
94 (34) |
83 (28) |
77 (25) |
105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
67 (19) |
75 (24) |
84 (29) |
88 (31) |
91 (33) |
93 (34) |
91 (33) |
89 (32) |
82 (28) |
75 (24) |
66 (19) |
93 (34) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.1 (4.5) |
43.7 (6.5) |
52.6 (11.4) |
65.2 (18.4) |
73.6 (23.1) |
80.9 (27.2) |
84.4 (29.1) |
83.1 (28.4) |
77.1 (25.1) |
65.9 (18.8) |
54.1 (12.3) |
44.3 (6.8) |
63.8 (17.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32.0 (0.0) |
34.8 (1.6) |
42.6 (5.9) |
53.8 (12.1) |
62.6 (17.0) |
70.3 (21.3) |
74.1 (23.4) |
72.8 (22.7) |
66.5 (19.2) |
55.3 (12.9) |
44.9 (7.2) |
36.4 (2.4) |
53.8 (12.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.0 (−4.4) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
32.6 (0.3) |
42.4 (5.8) |
51.5 (10.8) |
59.7 (15.4) |
63.8 (17.7) |
62.5 (16.9) |
55.9 (13.3) |
44.7 (7.1) |
35.8 (2.1) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
43.9 (6.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 3 (−16) |
7 (−14) |
14 (−10) |
26 (−3) |
36 (2) |
45 (7) |
53 (12) |
52 (11) |
42 (6) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
12 (−11) |
0 (−18) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) |
−25 (−32) |
−4 (−20) |
6 (−14) |
25 (−4) |
30 (−1) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
30 (−1) |
15 (−9) |
−1 (−18) |
−16 (−27) |
−25 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 3.12 (79) |
2.81 (71) |
3.65 (93) |
3.87 (98) |
4.33 (110) |
4.07 (103) |
4.93 (125) |
3.65 (93) |
3.41 (87) |
3.09 (78) |
3.02 (77) |
3.20 (81) |
43.15 (1,096) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.1 (23) |
5.5 (14) |
7.0 (18) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.1 (2.8) |
3.8 (9.7) |
27.6 (70) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 15.5 | 13.0 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 14.7 | 13.1 | 12.4 | 10.5 | 10.3 | 11.4 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 155.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 6.1 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 18.8 |
| Source:NOAA(snow 1981–2010)[11][12][13] | |||||||||||||
Geology[edit]
Historical Geology Summary[14]
Prior to one billion years ago, the geologic history of West Virginia is obscure. Sometime between about 1,100 and 800 million years ago,lavawas deposited in the extreme eastern part of the State forming our oldest exposed rock, theCatoctinGreenstone.Later, perhaps about 800 million years ago, a narrow trough began to form in extreme eastern West Virginia. An arm of theseaentered andsedimentsaccumulated. As time went on, this shallow sea transgressed westward. By the end ofCambriantime, about 300 million years later, this shallow sea covered essentially all of West Virginia. Marine deposition took place throughout most of this and the succeedingOrdovician Period.During this total interval of about 370 million years, most of the rocks exposed inJeffersonand easternBerkeleycounties and in scattered areas southwestward along theVirginiaboundary were deposited.Rocksof the same age are found in abundance in the deep wells throughout the State.
TheTaconic Orogenynear the end of Ordovician time formed a high mountainous area east ofWest Virginia.During Middle and LateDevoniantime theAcadian Orogeny,with the main uplift to the northeast, resulted in a further source for the predominantly clastic marine deposits of these epochs. However, near the end of Devonian time, the sea was rapidly retreating westward and the continental red beds of the Hampshire Formation were being deposited over most of the State.
The sea made one more important intrusion into West Virginia duringMiddle Mississippiantime, approximately 330 million years ago, resulting in the deposition of theGreenbrier Formation,predominantly limestone, the last marine deposit of significance in the State. At the close of Mississippian time, about 310 million years ago, West Virginia was essentially a land area, subject to erosion. Early in the succeedingPennsylvanian Period,the area dropped to near sea level and for more than 50 million years continued to sink at about the same rate that deposition was taking place.Permian Period,roughly 270 to 225 million years ago, the AppalachianOrogenybegan which played a major part in the formation of the Appalachian Mountains as we know them today. Never again has the sea invaded West Virginia.
The oldest evidences of life found in West Virginia occur in rocks about 600 million years old, in the Antietam Formation ofLower Cambrianage. However, in this formation they are abundant and of forms that had already developed through a substantial part of all evolution that has taken place during the history of the earth. Evidences of life in other parts of the earth are found in rocks at least 3 billion years old.Fossilsare found in increasing abundance and increasing stages of evolutional development in the rocks of all ages since earliestCambriantime.
Fauna[edit]
The life zones ofWest Virginiatransitions from large low-land farming valleys bordered with forest and meadow to high-land ridge flats and heavy forestlands, some with rocky ridge-line peaks. Thegeologyallows for a diversity of habitats. The "Mountain State" harbors at least 56speciesand subspecies ofmammals.The state has more than 300 types of birds and more than 100 species offish.Many commonInsectsof theEastern United Statescan be found in West Virginia. The state'sbeetlenumber about 15 species with more than 70 species ofOdonate,some 18 species ofspidersand a dozen species ofStonefly.There are about 17Mothspecies. There are a little over seven dozenCaveinvertebratespecies. The West Virginia Division of Wildlife (WVDNR) uses hunting and fishing license fees for wildlife habitat conservation.[15]
Flora[edit]
TheAlleghenyandCumberland Plateausof West Virginia are predominantly covered byhardwood forests,but along theOhio Riverand its principaltributaries,the valuable timber has been removed and considerable areas have been wholly cleared over the centuries for farming and pasture lands. Among the most prevalent trees of this region are thechestnut oaks,thewalnut,theyellow poplar,and thecherry.Southern West Virginiacontains the largest reserve supply of timber. In theRidge-and-Valleyregion of theAppalachian Mountains,theEastern PanhandleandPotomac Highlandshave a forest covering similar to that of the plateau region, however between these two areas of hardwood there is a long belt wherespruceandwhite pinecover the mountain ridges. Other trees common in the state are thepersimmon,sassafras,and, in the Ohio and Potomac Valley regions, theAmerican sycamore.Hickory,chestnut,locust,maple,beech,dogwood,andpawpaware widely distributed throughout the state as well. Among the state's common shrubs and vines are theblackberry,black and redraspberry,gooseberry,huckleberry,hazel,andwild grape.Ginsengis an important medicinal plant that is harvested primarily in West Virginia's southern regions.Wild ginger,elder,andsumachare common, and deep in the mountainous areas,rhododendrons,mountain laurel,andazaleasgrow in abundance.
Geographical facts[edit]
- Highest Point:Spruce KnobonSpruce MountaininPendleton County,4,863 feet (1,482 m) above sea level
- Lowest Point:Potomac RiveratHarpers Ferry,240 feet (73 m) above sea level
- Smallest County:Hancock County,229 km² (88.2 mi²)
- Largest County:Randolph County,2,693 km² (1,040 mi²)
- Oldest County:Hampshire County,formed December 13, 1753
- Youngest County:Mingo County,formed 1895
- Most Populous County:Kanawha County,200,073 (2000)
- Least Populous County:Wirt County,5,873 (2000)
- Fastest Growing County:Berkeley County,+28.0% growth between 1990 (59,253) and 2000 (75,905) censuses
- Most Populous Municipality:Charleston,53,421 (2000)
- Least Populous Municipality:Thurmond,7 (2000)
- Oldest Municipality:RomneyinHampshire Countychartered December 23, 1762
- Geographical Center of State:nearSuttoninBraxton County
- Center of Population:nearGassawayinBraxton County
- West Virginia is the only state with twoPanhandles.
See also[edit]
- Mountains of West Virginia
- Islands in West Virginia
- Lakes in West Virginia
- Rivers in West Virginia
- State forests in West Virginia
- State parks in West Virginia
- Wildlife management areas in West Virginia
References[edit]
- ^Olson, D. M.; et al. (2001)."Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth".BioScience.51(11): 933–938.doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2.
- ^"Allegheny Plateau".Infoplease.Retrieved7 July2010.
- ^"Land and Water Area of States, 2000".Information Please. 2000.Retrieved2010-07-07.
- ^"Our State".North American River Runners, Inc. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2010.Retrieved7 July2010.
- ^"West Virginia USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map".plantmaps.com.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2010.RetrievedNovember 11,2010.
- ^"West Virginia University data".West Virginia University Health Office. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2008.RetrievedJuly 7,2010.
- ^"NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Archivedfrom the original on May 1, 2021.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
- ^"Station: Charleston Yeager AP, WV".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
- ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJune 5,2021.
- ^ "Station: Huntington Tri State AP, WV".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJune 5,2021.
- ^"NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJune 10,2021.
- ^"Station: Morgantown Hart FLD, WV".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJune 10,2021.
- ^"Station: Morgantown Hart Field, WV".U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1981–2010).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJune 10,2021.
- ^This article is provided by the 'West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.' (adapted from an educational booklet by Dudley Cardwell, 1975 with additions from Ron McDowell, 2007) Permission to reproduce this material is granted if acknowledgment is given to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Address: Mont Chateau Research Center, 1 Mont Chateau Road, Morgantown, WV 26508-8079http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geolphyp.htm
- ^West Virginia Division of Wildlife"West Virginia Division of Natural Resources".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-04-12.Retrieved2008-04-07.
