Home > Iowa Academy of Science > Journals & Newsletters > Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science > Volume 77 (1970) > Annual Issue
Document Type
Research
Abstract
This paper undertakes to evaluate effects of climate upon geormorphic processes in Iowa. Iowa's climate is described as humid continental long summer, with three-fourths of the annual precipitation falling between the end of March and the beginning of October. In almost all climatic factors, the variation trends or changes from the north-northwest toward the south-southeast. Using the two parameters of mean annual temperature and mean annual rainfall for 119 stations in Iowa, a scattergram was constructed. Statistical analyses of the data suggest the presence of three microclimatic zones or regions in Iowa--northern, central, and southern. Comparisons of climatically controlled aspects of erosion and weathering showed that (1) drainage composition has had greater development in the south; (2) climatic factors affect the distribution and transportation of the dissolved and suspended load in streams: (3) soils of similar type and origin are more mature and have undergone more leaching of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus in the southeast than in the northwest; (4) employment of the universal soil loss equation indicates that more soil is likely to be removed per acre by erosion in the southeast than in the northwest. In comparing degrees of erosion and weathering between the three microclimatic regions, slight differences become apparent, indicating that in terms of climatic geomorphology, these regions are distinct.
Publication Date
1970
Journal Title
Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science
Volume
77
Issue
1
First Page
266
Last Page
281
Copyright
©1970 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Karsten, Richard A. and Tuttle, Sherwood D.
(1970)
"The Distribution of Climatic Factors in Iowa and Their Influence on Geomorphic Processes,"
Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 77(1), 266-281.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol77/iss1/39