fbpx
Wikipedia

High Plains (United States)

February 16, 2024

The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains, mainly in the Western United States, but also partly in the Midwest states of Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, generally encompassing the western part of the Great Plains before the region reaches the Rocky Mountains. The High Plains are located in eastern Montana, southeastern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota, western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, eastern New Mexico, the Oklahoma Panhandle, and the Texas Panhandle.[4] The southern region of the Western High Plains ecology region contains the geological formation known as Llano Estacado which can be seen from a short distance or on satellite maps.[5] From east to west, the High Plains rise in elevation from around 1,800 to 7,000 ft (550 to 2,130 m).[3]

High Plains
A buffalo wallow on the High Plains.[1]
Physiographic regions of the United States. The High Plains region is the center yellow area designated 13d.[2]
Floor elevation1,800–7,000 ft (550–2,130 m)[3]
Length800 mi (1,300 km)
Width400 mi (640 km)
Area174,000 sq mi (450,000 km2) [3]
Geography
CountryUnited States
The High Plains ecology region is designated by 25 on this map.
Childress County, Texas, June 1938.

Name edit

The term "Great Plains", for the region west of about the 96th or 98th meridian and east of the Rocky Mountains, was not generally used before the early 20th century. Nevin Fenneman's 1916 study, Physiographic Subdivision of the United States,[6] brought the term Great Plains into more widespread usage. Prior to 1916, the region was almost invariably called the High Plains, in contrast to the lower Prairie Plains of the Midwestern states.[7] Today the term "High Plains" is usually used for a subregion instead of the whole of the Great Plains.

Geography and climate edit

The High Plains has a "cold semi-arid" climate—Köppen BSk—receiving between 10–20 in (250–510 mm) of precipitation annually.

Due to low moisture and high elevation, the High Plains commonly experiences wide ranges and extremes in temperature. The temperature range from day to night is usually 30 °F (~16.5 °C), and 24-hour temperature shifts of 100 °F (~55.5 °C) are possible, as evidenced by a weather event that occurred in Browning, Montana, from January 23–24, 1916, when the temperature fell from 44 to −56 °F (7 to −49 °C). This is the world record for the greatest temperature change in 24 hours.[8] The region is known for the steady, and sometimes intense, winds that prevail from the west. The winds add a considerable wind chill factor in the winter. The development of wind farms in the High Plains is one of the newest areas of economic development.

The High Plains are anomalously high in elevation. An explanation has recently been proposed to explain this high elevation. As the Farallon plate was subducted into the mantle beneath the region, water trapped in hydrous minerals in the descending slab was forced up into the lower crust above. Within the crust this water caused the hydration of dense garnet and other phases into lower density amphibole and mica minerals. The resulting increase in crustal volume raised the elevation about one mile.[9][10]

Flora edit

Typical plant communities of the region are shortgrass prairie, prickly pear cacti and scrub. Sagebrush steppe is also present, particularly in high and dry areas closer to the Rocky Mountains.

Economy edit

Agriculture in the forms of cattle ranching and the growing of wheat, corn, and sunflowers is the primary economic activity in the region. The aridity of the region necessitates either dryland farming methods or irrigation; much water for irrigation is drawn from the underlying Ogallala Aquifer, which makes it possible to grow water-intensive crops such as corn, which the region's aridity would otherwise not support.[11] Some areas of the High Plains have significant petroleum and natural gas deposits.

The combination of oil, natural gas, and wind energy along with plentiful underground water, has allowed some areas (such as West Texas) to sustain a range of economic activity, including occasional industry. For example, the ASARCO refinery in Amarillo, Texas has been in operation since 1924 due to the plentiful and inexpensive natural gas and water that are needed in metal ore refining.[citation needed]

Demographics edit

The High Plains has one of the lowest population densities of any region in the continental United States; Wyoming, for example, has the second lowest population density in the country after Alaska. In contrast to the stagnant population growth in the northern and western High Plains, cities in west Texas have shown sustained growth; Amarillo and Lubbock both have populations near or above 200,000 and continue to grow.[citation needed] Smaller towns, on the other hand, often struggle to sustain their population.

Major cities and towns edit

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Darton, Nelson Horatio (1920). Syracuse-Lakin folio, Kansas. Folios of the Geologic Atlas, No. 212: United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. p. 17 (plate 2). from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ . U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on May 15, 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "USGS High Plains Aquifer WLMS". U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. Geological Survey. from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  4. ^ File:Level III ecoregions, United States.png
  5. ^ "Shaded relief image of the Llano Estacado". Handbook of Texas: Llano Estacado. June 15, 2010. from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  6. ^ Fenneman, Nevin M. (January 1917). "Physiographic Subdivision of the United States". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 3 (1): 17–22. Bibcode:1917PNAS....3...17F. doi:10.1073/pnas.3.1.17. OCLC 43473694. PMC 1091163. PMID 16586678.
  7. ^ Brown, Ralph Hall (1948). Historical Geography of the United States. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. pp. 373–374. OCLC 186331193.
  8. ^ "Top Ten Montana Weather Events of the 20th Century". National Weather Service Unveils Montana's Top Ten Weather/Water/Climate Events of the 20th Century. National Weather Service. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "Why Are the High Plains So High?". THECHERRYCREEKNEwsxWS.COM. March 15, 2005. from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Jones, Craig H.; Mahan, Kevin H.; Butcher, Lesley A.; Levandowski, William B.; Farmer, G. Lang (2015). "Continental uplift through crustal hydration". Geology. 43 (4): 355–358. Bibcode:2015Geo....43..355J. doi:10.1130/G36509.1.
  11. ^ Scott, Michon. "National Climate Assessment: Great Plains' Ogallala Aquifer drying out". climate.gov. NOAA. from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.

External links edit

  • High Plains Regional Climate Center High Plains climatological resources
  • - U.S. Department of the Interior (with map)
  • Texas counties map showing the ecoregion
  • Public domain images of the high plains of the Llano Estacado

February 16, 2024
high, plains, united, states, high, plains, subregion, great, plains, mainly, western, united, states, also, partly, midwest, states, nebraska, kansas, south, dakota, generally, encompassing, western, part, great, plains, before, region, reaches, rocky, mounta. The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains mainly in the Western United States but also partly in the Midwest states of Nebraska Kansas and South Dakota generally encompassing the western part of the Great Plains before the region reaches the Rocky Mountains The High Plains are located in eastern Montana southeastern Wyoming southwestern South Dakota western Nebraska eastern Colorado western Kansas eastern New Mexico the Oklahoma Panhandle and the Texas Panhandle 4 The southern region of the Western High Plains ecology region contains the geological formation known as Llano Estacado which can be seen from a short distance or on satellite maps 5 From east to west the High Plains rise in elevation from around 1 800 to 7 000 ft 550 to 2 130 m 3 High PlainsA buffalo wallow on the High Plains 1 Physiographic regions of the United States The High Plains region is the center yellow area designated 13d 2 Floor elevation1 800 7 000 ft 550 2 130 m 3 Length800 mi 1 300 km Width400 mi 640 km Area174 000 sq mi 450 000 km2 3 GeographyCountryUnited StatesThe High Plains ecology region is designated by 25 on this map Childress County Texas June 1938 Contents 1 Name 2 Geography and climate 3 Flora 4 Economy 5 Demographics 6 Major cities and towns 7 Gallery 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksName editThe term Great Plains for the region west of about the 96th or 98th meridian and east of the Rocky Mountains was not generally used before the early 20th century Nevin Fenneman s 1916 study Physiographic Subdivision of the United States 6 brought the term Great Plains into more widespread usage Prior to 1916 the region was almost invariably called the High Plains in contrast to the lower Prairie Plains of the Midwestern states 7 Today the term High Plains is usually used for a subregion instead of the whole of the Great Plains Geography and climate editThe High Plains has a cold semi arid climate Koppen BSk receiving between 10 20 in 250 510 mm of precipitation annually Due to low moisture and high elevation the High Plains commonly experiences wide ranges and extremes in temperature The temperature range from day to night is usually 30 F 16 5 C and 24 hour temperature shifts of 100 F 55 5 C are possible as evidenced by a weather event that occurred in Browning Montana from January 23 24 1916 when the temperature fell from 44 to 56 F 7 to 49 C This is the world record for the greatest temperature change in 24 hours 8 The region is known for the steady and sometimes intense winds that prevail from the west The winds add a considerable wind chill factor in the winter The development of wind farms in the High Plains is one of the newest areas of economic development The High Plains are anomalously high in elevation An explanation has recently been proposed to explain this high elevation As the Farallon plate was subducted into the mantle beneath the region water trapped in hydrous minerals in the descending slab was forced up into the lower crust above Within the crust this water caused the hydration of dense garnet and other phases into lower density amphibole and mica minerals The resulting increase in crustal volume raised the elevation about one mile 9 10 Flora editTypical plant communities of the region are shortgrass prairie prickly pear cacti and scrub Sagebrush steppe is also present particularly in high and dry areas closer to the Rocky Mountains Economy editAgriculture in the forms of cattle ranching and the growing of wheat corn and sunflowers is the primary economic activity in the region The aridity of the region necessitates either dryland farming methods or irrigation much water for irrigation is drawn from the underlying Ogallala Aquifer which makes it possible to grow water intensive crops such as corn which the region s aridity would otherwise not support 11 Some areas of the High Plains have significant petroleum and natural gas deposits The combination of oil natural gas and wind energy along with plentiful underground water has allowed some areas such as West Texas to sustain a range of economic activity including occasional industry For example the ASARCO refinery in Amarillo Texas has been in operation since 1924 due to the plentiful and inexpensive natural gas and water that are needed in metal ore refining citation needed Demographics editThe High Plains has one of the lowest population densities of any region in the continental United States Wyoming for example has the second lowest population density in the country after Alaska In contrast to the stagnant population growth in the northern and western High Plains cities in west Texas have shown sustained growth Amarillo and Lubbock both have populations near or above 200 000 and continue to grow citation needed Smaller towns on the other hand often struggle to sustain their population Major cities and towns editAlliance Nebraska Amarillo Texas Aurora Colorado Benkelman Nebraska Colby Kansas Chadron Nebraska Chappell Nebraska Cheyenne Wyoming Clovis New Mexico Colorado Springs Colorado Dodge City Kansas Fort Morgan Colorado Garden City Kansas Goodland Kansas Gering Nebraska Grant Nebraska Greeley Colorado Guymon Oklahoma Hays Kansas Hobbs New Mexico Imperial Nebraska Kimball Nebraska La Junta Colorado Lamar Colorado Las Vegas New Mexico Liberal Kansas Limon Colorado Lubbock Texas Midland Texas Odessa Texas Ogallala Nebraska Pecos Texas Pine Ridge South Dakota Porcupine South Dakota Portales New Mexico Roswell New Mexico Sidney Nebraska Santa Rosa New Mexico Scottsbluff Nebraska Sterling Colorado Tucumcari New Mexico Ulysses Kansas Vaughn New Mexico Willard ColoradoGallery edit nbsp High Plains in Oklahoma west of Guymon 2009 nbsp Cimarron County near Boise City 2009 nbsp Grain silos a common sight on the High Plains 2009 nbsp High Plains in Southeastern Colorado 2009 nbsp The High Plains are broken in places by canyons such as this one in Sabinoso Wilderness in New Mexico See also editAltiplano Dust storm Flora of the Great Plains North America Great American Desert List of ecoregions in the United States EPA Llano Estacado North American Prairies Province Shortgrass prairie Steppe Temperate grasslands savannas and shrublands Biome Texas High Plains AVA wine region in the Texas section of the High Plains Tibetan Plateau Western short grasslands Wind power in TexasReferences edit Darton Nelson Horatio 1920 Syracuse Lakin folio Kansas Folios of the Geologic Atlas No 212 United States Department of the Interior U S Geological Survey p 17 plate 2 Archived from the original on October 4 2011 Retrieved October 6 2010 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link Physiographic Regions U S Department of the Interior U S Geological Survey Archived from the original on May 15 2006 Retrieved October 6 2010 a b c USGS High Plains Aquifer WLMS U S Department of the Interior U S Geological Survey Archived from the original on May 27 2010 Retrieved October 6 2010 File Level III ecoregions United States png Shaded relief image of the Llano Estacado Handbook of Texas Llano Estacado June 15 2010 Archived from the original on August 1 2013 Retrieved August 6 2013 Fenneman Nevin M January 1917 Physiographic Subdivision of the United States Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 3 1 17 22 Bibcode 1917PNAS 3 17F doi 10 1073 pnas 3 1 17 OCLC 43473694 PMC 1091163 PMID 16586678 Brown Ralph Hall 1948 Historical Geography of the United States New York Harcourt Brace amp Co pp 373 374 OCLC 186331193 Top Ten Montana Weather Events of the 20th Century National Weather Service Unveils Montana s Top Ten Weather Water Climate Events of the 20th Century National Weather Service Archived from the original on March 13 2013 Retrieved June 1 2015 Why Are the High Plains So High THECHERRYCREEKNEwsxWS COM March 15 2005 Archived from the original on March 19 2015 Retrieved March 15 2015 Jones Craig H Mahan Kevin H Butcher Lesley A Levandowski William B Farmer G Lang 2015 Continental uplift through crustal hydration Geology 43 4 355 358 Bibcode 2015Geo 43 355J doi 10 1130 G36509 1 Scott Michon National Climate Assessment Great Plains Ogallala Aquifer drying out climate gov NOAA Archived from the original on September 27 2019 Retrieved September 27 2019 External links editHigh Plains United States at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Travel information from Wikivoyage High Plains Regional Climate Center High Plains climatological resources High Plains information U S Department of the Interior with map Trains on the High Plains Texas counties map showing the ecoregion Public domain images of the high plains of the Llano Estacado Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title High Plains United States amp oldid 1190477843, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.