Climatology and Vegetation in Colorado

Abstract

To the student of botany, it matters not in what part of the United States he lives or in what branch of botanical work he is engaged, the state of Colorado is an interesting and attractive area. The general inland location of the state, great differences of altitude, of latitude, and of topography, are factors which bring about varied climatic conditions, resulting in corresponding vegetative differences. It is the purpose of this paper to give a general view of the climatological conditions of Colorado in their relation to vegetation. The necessity of pointing out in ecological and phytogeographical studies the relation between the climatology of an area, extended or restricted in its range, and the vegetative covering, is being increasingly recognized. The climatologist and the field botanist must join hands. Not only is th e botanist coming to realize his dependence upon a thorough knowledge of climatology as a basis for his phytogeographical studies, but in a like manner is the climatologist coming to see that the distribution of the indigenous vegetation will aid him. This fact has been recognized by the Maryland Weather Service, which has undertaken a botanical survey of that state as a part of its climatic studies.