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Hydrology and Land Surface Studies
Climatic trends in major U.S. urban areas, 1950–2009
Article first published online: 16 AUG 2011
DOI: 10.1029/2011GL048255
Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.
Additional Information
How to Cite
, and (2011), Climatic trends in major U.S. urban areas, 1950–2009, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L16401, doi:10.1029/2011GL048255.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 AUG 2011
- Article first published online: 16 AUG 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 8 JUL 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 8 JUL 2011
- Manuscript Received: 25 MAY 2011
Keywords:
- climate change;
- climate extremes;
- energy demands;
- infrastructure demand;
- urbanization
[1] We evaluate changes in climatic indices for the 100 largest U.S. urban areas and paired surrounding non-urban areas. During the period 1950–2009, we find that there were statistically significant changes in as many as half of the urban areas in temperature-related indices, such as heating and cooling degree-days and number of warm and cool nights, almost all of which are reflective of a general warming. Similarly, statistically significant changes (mostly increases) in indices related to extreme precipitation, such as daily maximum intensities and number of days with heavy precipitation, were detected in as many of 30% of the urban areas. A paired analysis of urban and surrounding non-urban areas suggests that most temperature-related trends are attributable to regional climate change, rather than to local effects of urbanization, although the picture is more mixed for precipitation.