Relationship between decreased temperature range and precipitation trends in the United States and Canada, 1941--1980

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Clim. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1986)025<1878:RBDTRA>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6248747

Karl, T R; Kukla, G; Gavin, J

Previous work has shown significant decreases of the diurnal temperature range (1941--1980) across a network of 130 station in the United States and Canada. In the present study, changes in monthly total precipitation at these same stations were related to the decrease in temperature range using various Monte Carlo tests. These tests indicate that factors other than those related to precipitation contributed to the decrease of daily temperature range. Further study of the mechanisms responsible for the decreased temperature range is warranted, based on these results. The decreased range may be one of the few pieces of evidence available in North America that is consistent with potential impacts of increased greenhouse gases and/or anthropogenic aerosols. 19 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC 28801; Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964
• OSTI ID: 6248747
• Journal Information: J. Clim. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States), Vol. 25
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
DAILY VARIATIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EVALUATION
MONTE CARLO METHOD
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
VARIATIONS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport- (-1989)
500100 - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)