Temperature and precipitation of Alaska: 50 year trend analysis |
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Authors: | J M Stafford G Wendler J Curtis |
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Institution: | (1) Alaska Climate Research Center, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, US |
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Abstract: | Summary Temperature and precipitation records from 1949 to 1998 were examined for 25 stations throughout the State of Alaska. Mean,
maxima, and minima temperatures, diurnal temperature range, and total precipitation were analyzed for linear trends using
least squares regressions. Annual and seasonal mean temperature increases were found throughout the entire state, and the
majority were found to be statistically significant at the 95% level or better. The highest increases were found in winter
in the Interior region (2.2 °C) for the 50 year period of record. Decreases in annual and seasonal mean diurnal temperature
range were also found, of which only about half were statistically significant. A state-wide decrease in annual mean diurnal
temperature range was found to be 0.3 °C, with substantially higher decreases in the South/Southeastern region in winter.
Increases were found in total precipitation for 3 of the 4 seasons throughout most of Alaska, while summer precipitation showed
decreases at many stations. Few of the precipitation trends were found to be statistically significant, due to high interannual
variability. Barrow, our only station in the Arctic region, shows statistically significant decreases in annual and winter
total precipitation. These findings are largely in agreement with existing literature, although they do contradict some of
the precipitation trends predicted by the CO2-doubling GCM’s.
Received August 30, 1999/Revised March 21, 2000 |
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