Reconciling the spatial distribution of the surface temperature trends in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

This study attempts to explain the considerable spatial heterogeneity in the observed linear trends of monthly mean maximum and minimum temperatures (T max and T min) from station observations in the southeastern (SE) United States (specifically Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina). In a majority of these station sites, the warming trends in T min are stronger in urban areas relative to rural areas. The linear trends of T min in urban areas of the SE United States are approximately 7°F century -1 compared to about 5.5°F century -1 in rural areas. The trends in T max show weaker warming (or stronger cooling) trends with irrigation, while trends in T min show stronger warming trends. This functionality of the temperature trends with land features also shows seasonality, with the boreal summer season showing the most consistent relationship in the trends of both T max and T min. This study reveals that linear trends in T max in the boreal summer season show a cooling trend of about 0.5°F century -1 with irrigation, while the same observing stations on an average display warming trends in T min of about 3.5°F century -1. The seasonality and the physical consistency of these relationships with existing theories may suggest that urbanization and irrigation have a nonnegligible influence on the spatial heterogeneity of the surface temperature trends over the SE United States. The study also delineates the caveats and limitations of the conclusions reached herein due to the potential influence of perceived nonclimatic discontinuities (which incidentally could also have a seasonal cycle) that have not been taken into account. © 2012 American Meteorological Society.