Pacific Southwest Domain

The Pacific Southwest Domain encompasses most of California. The NEON candidate core site is located in the central part of the state, at the San Joaquin Experimental Range, near the Sierra National Forest, about 20 miles north of Fresno. The Experimental Range was established in the 1930s to improve knowledge of land management in the foothills of the San Joaquin Valley. The primary NEON research focus will be on climate change impacts at various elevations. In fact, the region anchors the southern end of a Pacific climate change research corridor that extends to the NEON tundra site at Toolik Lake, Alaska.

Domain: Pacific Southwest (Domain #17)

Science Focus: Climate change.

Candidate Core Site Name: San Joaquin Experimental Range

Representativeness: The site's climate is Mediterranean, with about 486 mm of rain falling from October to November to April or May. Winters are cool and wet, with frequent frosts and mean monthly temperatures between 4 and 10ºC. SJER is characterized by open woodland dominated by oaks (blue and interior live oaks) and gray pine with scattered shrubs and nearly continuous cover of herbaceous plants. Swales occur in low areas between rises.

Location: Latitude: 37.109; Longitude: -119.732.

Existing Infrastructure: Administrative building, living quarters for up to 28 persons, garages, and a meeting facility.