NEISA Publications

Wake, C. and A. Wilson (2004) Multiple Indicators of Climate Change Over the Past Century in New England. AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, December. Abstract No. A42A-04.

Abstract

As part of the Atmospheric Investigation, Regional Modeling, Analysis and Prediction (AIRMAP) project, we have developed a series of indicators of climate change in New England from instrumental and observational records. This includes changes in atmospheric and sea surface temperature, annual precipitation, precipitation from intense events, ice out dates, length of growing season, and days with snow on ground. While there is some spatial variability, these indicators overall show that New EnglandŐs climate over the past century has become warmer and wetter. The largest seasonal warming has occurred during the winter, and the increase in precipitation is due mainly to an increase in extreme precipitation events (more than two inches of rain over a 48 hour period). The indicators data will be published as a report for the general public and is also available in easy to view formats on the AIRMAP web page (airmap.unh.edu), along with real-time air quality data, so that the New EnglanderŐs can investigate climate change in their own backyard.