Rainfall as an Abiotic Factor at Race Rocks

Rainfall  at Race Rocks. Recorded by a Davis Instruments tipping bucket rain gauge. These graphs are made possible by the website victoriaweather.ca

Hourly Rainfall today at Race Rocks

 

 

Rainfall for the past week at Race Rocks

 

 

Rainfall for the past month

Rainfall for 2020 at Race Rocks

 

 

Rainfall graph for 2019

Rainfall graph for 2018

Rainfall graph for 2017

 

ARCHIVES
2016 Rainfall for 2016
NOTE MISSING DATA in 2016 due to equipment failure
2015: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) 2014: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) 2013: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) 2012: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) 2011: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) 2010: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) 2009: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) Note : Jan to July.. equip failure. 2008: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) equipment failure gives blank records for several days 2007: Monthly Totals are shown. ( Includes data and graphs at this site.) Equip failure February March and part of April of 2007 2006: Monthly Rain Totals (includes data and graphs for part of 2006:  

Extreme values since 2006

 

 

 

The Adaptations and Response of Organisms to the Abiotic factor of Rainfall

Canada geese are dependant on the availability of fresh water at Race Rocks. During the winter, the higher level rock pools are refreshed by rainfall. There is no other natural source of water on the island. By the time their eggs hatch in June, most of the pools have dried up, so they have to take their young off the island and over to the mainland. They may make it past the eagles….(Photo by PB)

Juvenile bald eagles in very wet weather.( Photo by Pam Birley)
The availability of water for vegetation on Race Rocks has major implications for the species of plants which can survive on the island. Not only do they have to survive dessication from salt spray, but abundant water in the winter months and almost a total lack of water from June to September. One of the best grasses to tolerate these conditions is Fescue. Here you can see it growing on the natural rock outcrops on the island. 


Go to this exercise on the Water Cycle , along with other biogeochemical cycles.

Other references:  Google Climate change and Rainfall patterns

Global warming already changing rainfall... 

Wetland Conservation – Threatened by Climate Change


Rainbow West of Great Race Rocks from the remote camera 5. Image by Garry Fletcher,

Recent Posts

Fun times, happy people

Three boat loads of Pearson’s students, instructors and a couple of parents visited today. They learned about the sea lions, elephant seals, gulls, the history of the lighthouse, climbed the lighthouse and toured the facilities to learn how fresh water and energy are produced and stored on the island. On one of the trips an ROV was launched off the pier. It was super cool to catch a special glimpse of the dancing kelp underwater world and have a view of the sky with gulls flying overhead seen from below the water surface.

Race Rocks students (tiny specks) at the base of the lighthouse.

Wildlife notes:

Several young eagles visited the island early this morning. I found it interesting that once an eagle had landed, the gulls seemed complacent and even sat or stood nearby. The oyster catchers however were not as accepting and continued to harass the unwelcomed intruder. Their determination and insistence may by due to the fact that some of the oyster catchers have already laid their eggs, while the gulls have little invested at this point, being only in the nest building, pairing and mating stages. Or maybe the young eagle I watched sitting amongst the gulls was just an inexperienced hunter or it is only eagles in flight that are a danger to the gulls …all day I watch the creatures here and wonder why – never any closer to understanding.

Oystercatcher swooping at a young eagle on South Rocks.

Facility work

  • cleaned the solar panels, too busy with the boats and visitors for much else

Vessels (partial count)

  • ecotourism: 2
  • private: 1

Weather

  • moderate westerly breeze throughout the day, partial clouds. Day time temperature: high 11, low 9.

 

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