An urban impact model for changes in the length of the frost free season at selected Canadian stations

A study of long term temperature data for fourteen Canadian cities showed that the length of the annual frost free season has increased by average of 7 days since 1940. Change in individual stations ranged from 26 to -17 days resulting in significant shifts in the mean probable dates for the first and the last frost of the season at most stations. No similar trend was shown in three non-urban control stations. Three urban factors: heat island effect, enhanced cloud cover and the rate of population growth - together accounted for 80% of the explained variance in the phenomenon. A multiple regression model was developed to describe the relationship between the change in the season and the urban factors. It is shown that for any appreciable gains to be made in the length of the season at reasonably predictable changes in temperature, such changes in temperature should be accompanied by a modest increase in cloud cover.