Datasets

Data Availability	Name	Objective	Description	Dates
Downloadable	Annual Precipitation	Water is essential to a healthy forested ecosystem, but excess water can lead to flooding and disease outbreaks, while a deficiency can lead to drought. For example, extreme rain events can cause floo ding in low-lying areas, but even upland forests may experience “overland flow”. This occurs when rainfall is so heavy that it cannot be absorbed into the soil. Aquifers are not replenished and soil erosion may happen, exposing tree roots and washing away nutrients. Fluctuations in rainfall above or below the long-term mean will lead to stressful conditions for some forest species while creating ideal conditions for other species. Trees are adapted to the long-term conditions they have experienced, therefore deviations in precipitation from the long-term mean (both above and below) could be problematic to forests. Ideally, a healthy forest ecosystem has water availability that remains consistent. Read More	These data are annual summaries of precipitation derived from models of historical weather observations. These data were downloaded from the National Center for Environmental Information. . Total annu al precipitation is the sum of all water (in the form of rain, snow, or ice) that fell within a calendar year. Read More	1895-01-01 (ongoing)
Downloadable	Annual Summaries of Climate Trends in Vermont	Track records of yearly temperatures in Vermont.	These data are annual summaries of minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation trends for the state of Vermont, derived from models of historical weather observations. These data were downloaded from the National Center for Environmental Information. Read More	1895-01-01 (ongoing)
Downloadable	Maximum Temperature	As our climate changes, it is predicted that there will be greater variability in annual temperatures, as well as warmer maximum temperatures in the summer. Higher summer temperatures can lead to drou ght and heat stress to forests, resulting in declines in tree health and tree mortality. Read More	These data are annual summaries of maximum temperature derived from models of historical weather observations. These data were downloaded from the National Center for Environmental Information.	1895-01-01 (ongoing)
Downloadable	Minimum Temperature	With climate change, minimum winter temperatures are projected to increase. These higher minimum temperatures stress the native forest species by moving conditions away from what they are adapted to h andle. Failure to reach typical low winter temperatures can allow for non-native pests, pathogens, and plants to proliferate while stressing the native forest species by moving conditions away from what they are adapted to handle. More frequent freeze-thaw cycles can damage tree roots and can mobilize nutrients away from forests where they are needed. Read More	These data are annual summaries of minimum temperature derived from models of historical weather observations. These data were downloaded from the National Center for Environmental Information.	1895-01-01 (ongoing)