Impact of CO2 on the climate change in North America during the 20th century. Final report, August 1, 1984-July 31, 1985

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6048583

Kukla, G J

The geographic and seasonal pattern of changes in the mean maximum, minimum and average surface air temperature, as well as precipitation over North America between 1941 and 1980 was examined. An analysis of the data revealed a statistically significant decrease in the temperature range, particularly in summer and early autumn. The decrease in the range appears to be associated with increasing precipitation at many stations. However, further statistical tests have shown that increased precipitation, and by inference, atmospheric water vapor and cloud cover can not fully account for the large number of stations with a decreased range. Using climate division data over the United States, a recent increase in spring and summer temperature of approx.1C and decrease in precipitation by 20 to 40% was found for the Central and Northern Great Plains. Comparisons of urban/rural station pairs in North America revealed an annual mean relative warming of the urban sites of between 0.12 and 0.15C/decade. 9 refs.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (USA). Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83ER60162
• OSTI ID: 6048583
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60162-3; ON: DE86006126
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
NORTH AMERICA
CLIMATES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
SURFACE AIR
AIR
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
FLUIDS
GASES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
VARIATIONS
500100* - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)