Chapter 16: The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest Region

This week the topic is The Pacific Northwest.  True to its name, The Pacific Northwest is located in the northwestern United States along the Pacific coast up into Canada and eventually reaching Alaska.  The region is famous for its environmental initiatives to preserve and protect the local environments.  In fact, Ernest Callenbach referred to the region as Ecotopia in one of his novels.  However, in more resent years, the region is more often referred to as Cascadia.  Most of The Pacific Northwest is mountainous, and most of the mountain ranges parallel the coast.  Similar to California, some areas in The Pacific Northwest are troughs that are enclosed by mountain ranges to the west and east.  One such area extends from central Oregon to Puget Sound (The Willamette Valley) and can be found between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Ranges.  The Willamette Valley was the end of the Oregon Trail.  Today, its incredibly fertile land is home to the densest population in Oregon and its largest cities. Geographically, The Pacific Northwest includes the coastal regions of Washington and Oregon, before heading up the coast of Canada, and finally reaching coastal regions of Alaska.  First, we will compare the climate of The Pacific Northwest with Rehoboth Beach, DE, and then we will look at an important aspect of The Pacific Northwest and how it relates to both regions.

Interestingly, this week, we have a region on the northwestern coast to compare to a town on the northeastern coast.  Both regions are separated by close to 3000 miles, but there will likely be similarities in climate between the two places because of there similar overall locations.  The Pacific Northwest's climate is influenced by 3 major things: 1) Its location just east of the relatively warm ocean. 2) Its location within the zone of onshore westerly winds. 3) North-south mountain barriers located along the coast, as well as father inland.  Similar to other places we have studied, the Coast Mountains get most of the precipitation from onshore moisture on the western slopes.

This graphic highlights the effects of the rain shadow,
as well as the moderating effects on temperature
the Pacific Ocean has on coastal parts of the region.

Thus, creating a rain shadow effect on the surrounding areas east of the mountain range.  The phenomena of rain falling on the western side of the mountains as it is lifted and cooled is called orographic rainfall.  Rehoboth Beach, and Delaware as a whole, does not experience orographic rainfall because there are no major mountains in the way for ocean air to have to rise over.  Therefore, precipitation from the onshore winds falls throughout much of Delaware, rather than just west of the mountains as in The Pacific Northwest.  Ironically, The Pacific Northwest's coastal mountains get some of the highest rainfall totals in North America, yet regions directly east of the mountains receive under the national average.  This fact highlights the rain shadow effect, and how real of an effect it has on the region's climate.  Despite the large variations in rainfall throughout the region, some areas, such as Corvalis, Oregon receive similar amounts of annual rainfall as Rehoboth Beach.  Both areas receive about 45 inches of rain each year.  In The Pacific Northwest, winters are cool and rainy, with numerous storms.  I have family in Washington, and have heard it said that there is the rainy season, and then there is August.  Snow is usually only seen in the mountain peaks, but on occasion temperatures can get low enough in other areas.  In the summer, maritime air moderates the temperature, and thus, temperatures are cooler along the coast than farther inland.  The moderating effect the Pacific Ocean has on the Pacific Northwest is very similar to the moderating effect the Atlantic Ocean has on Rehoboth Beach.  That said, Rehoboth Beach is far more humid than The Pacific Northwest. As a whole, coastal regions in The pacific Northwest tend to have cooler summers, but warmer winters than Rehoboth Beach.  As you move inland, regions of The Pacific Northwest tend to have cooler-cold winters that are similar in temperature to winters in Rehoboth Beach.  Overall, both regions have their differences; however, they also have multiple similarities.

Environmental protection is a very important aspect of The Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest has placed a high value on protecting the environment, and has done so in a manner that is unrivaled by other regions, Rehoboth Beach included.  However, that is not to say Rehoboth Beach does not value the environment.

Backpacking in The Pacific Northwest is a popular activity

As a beach town, Rehoboth Beach's popularity is dependent on providing clean beaches, and a clean environment overall, so vacationers will keep coming back each summer.  Rehoboth Beach actively works to keep its beaches and city clean.  Additionally, the city operates in a way that does not cause major environmental harm.  Similarly, The Pacific Northwest continues to protect its surrounding environment.  As a result, many vacationers like to visit The Pacific Northwest during the summer months for activities such as backpacking, sports fishing, river rafting, and taking in the beautiful scenery.  Both Rehoboth Beach, and The Pacific Northwest benefit in terms of tourism by protecting their environments, and keeping the region clean/safe.

Overall, The Pacific Northwest and Rehoboth Beach, DE had similarities as well as differences.  Their similar locations, albeit on opposite coasts, played a role in many of the similarities the two regions shared.  Next week the topic will be Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands.  It is the final chapter in my course, and therefore, will be the final installment to my Geography 321 Blog so don't miss it.

Until Next Time,
William