Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Evidence for a Rising Cloud Ceiling in Eastern North America

Andrew D. Richardson School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Search for other papers by Andrew D. Richardson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ellen G. Denny School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Search for other papers by Ellen G. Denny in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Thomas G. Siccama School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Search for other papers by Thomas G. Siccama in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Xuhui Lee School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Search for other papers by Xuhui Lee in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
15 Jun 2003
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2003)016<2093:EFARCC>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
2093–2098
Restricted access

Abstract

Data from 24 airport weather stations along the north–south axis (35°–45°N) of the Appalachian Mountains are used to show a significant rising trend in cloud-ceiling height over the past three decades. The mean change in cloud-ceiling height was 4.14 ± 1.03 m yr−1 [mean ± 1 SE (standard error), p ≤ 0.001] across all stations. The trend was negative (−2.22 ± 0.67 m yr−1) for the six stations south of 37.5°N, but positive (6.26 ± 0.89 m yr−1) for the 18 stations north of this latitude. Mean ceiling height for broken cloud cover was higher and rising faster than mean ceiling height for overcast cloud cover. There were strong seasonal patterns that varied between the northernmost and southernmost stations; differences were most pronounced during the spring and summer months. Some of the potential ecological effects on high-elevation forests, where the transition from deciduous to coniferous forest is thought to be controlled by the height of the cloud base, are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Andrew D. Richardson, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 370 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511. Email: andrew.richardson@yale.edu

Abstract

Data from 24 airport weather stations along the north–south axis (35°–45°N) of the Appalachian Mountains are used to show a significant rising trend in cloud-ceiling height over the past three decades. The mean change in cloud-ceiling height was 4.14 ± 1.03 m yr−1 [mean ± 1 SE (standard error), p ≤ 0.001] across all stations. The trend was negative (−2.22 ± 0.67 m yr−1) for the six stations south of 37.5°N, but positive (6.26 ± 0.89 m yr−1) for the 18 stations north of this latitude. Mean ceiling height for broken cloud cover was higher and rising faster than mean ceiling height for overcast cloud cover. There were strong seasonal patterns that varied between the northernmost and southernmost stations; differences were most pronounced during the spring and summer months. Some of the potential ecological effects on high-elevation forests, where the transition from deciduous to coniferous forest is thought to be controlled by the height of the cloud base, are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Andrew D. Richardson, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 370 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511. Email: andrew.richardson@yale.edu

Save
Cover Journal of Climate
Journal of Climate

  • Chernykh, I. V., and R. E. Eskridge, 1996: Determination of cloud amount and level from radiosonde soundings. J. Appl. Meteor., 35 , 1362–1369.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chernykh, I. V., O. A. Alduchov, and R. E. Eskridge, 2001: Trends in low and high cloud boundaries and errors in height determination of cloud boundaries. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 82 , 1941–1947.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cogbill, C. V., and P. S. White, 1991: The latitude–elevation relationship for spruce–fir forest and treeline along the Appalachian mountain chain. Vegetatio, 94 , 153–175.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Croke, M. S., R. D. Cess, and S. Hameed, 1999: Regional cloud cover change associated with global climate change: Case studies for three regions of the United States. J. Climate, 12 , 2128–2134.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Davis, R. B., 1966: Spruce–fir forests of the coast of Maine. Ecol. Monogr., 36 , 79–94.

  • Dyer, J. M., 1995: Assessment of climatic warming using a model of forest species migration. Ecol. Model., 79 , 199–219.

  • Kupfer, J. A., and D. M. Cairns, 1996: The suitability of montane ecotones as indicators of global climatic change. Prog. Phys. Geogr., 20 , 253–272.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lawton, R. O., U. S. Nair, R. A. Pielke Sr., and R. M. Welch, 2001: Climatic impact of tropical lowland deforestation on nearby montane cloud forests. Science, 294 , 584–587.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Malanson, G. P., and D. M. Cairns, 1995: Effects of increased cloud-cover on a montane forest landscape. Écoscience, 2 , 75–82.

  • Miller, E. K., A. J. Friedland, E. A. Arons, V. A. Mohnen, J. J. Battles, J. A. Panek, J. Kadlecek, and A. H. Johnson, 1993: Atmospheric deposition to forests along an elevational gradient at Whiteface Mountain, NY, U.S.A. Atmos. Environ., 27A , 2121–2136.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Parungo, F., J. F. Boatman, H. Sievering, S. W. Wilkison, and B. B. Hicks, 1994: Trends in global marine cloudiness and anthropogenic sulfur. J. Climate, 7 , 434–440.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Pindyck, R. S., and D. L. Rubinfeld, 1981: Econometric Models and Economic Forecasts. McGraw-Hill, 630 pp.

  • Pounds, J. A., M. P. L. Fogden, and J. H. Campbell, 1999: Biological response to climate change on a tropical mountain. Nature, 398 , 611–615.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ramanathan, V., R. D. Cess, E. F. Harrison, P. Minnis, B. R. Barkstrom, E. Ahmad, and D. Hartmann, 1989: Cloud-radiative forcing and climate: Results from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment. Science, 243 , 57–63.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Siccama, T. G., 1974: Vegetation, soil, and climate on the Green Mountains of Vermont. Ecol. Monogr., 44 , 325–349.

  • Steurer, P., and M. Bodosky, 2000: Data documentation for surface airways hourly (TD-3280) and airways solar radiation (TD-3281). National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC, 52 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Still, C. J., P. N. Foster, and S. H. Schneider, 1999: Simulating the effects of climate change on tropical montane cloud forests. Nature, 398 , 608–610.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sun, B., P. Y. Groisman, and I. I. Mokhov, 2001: Recent changes in cloud-type frequency and inferred increases in convection over the United States and the Former USSR. J. Climate, 14 , 1864–1880.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vogelmann, H. W., T. Siccama, D. Leedy, and D. C. Ovitt, 1968: Precipitation from fog moisture in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Ecology, 49 , 1205–1207.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Weinstein, D. A., 1992: Use of simulation models to evaluate the alteration of ecotones by global carbon dioxide increases. Landscape Boundaries: Consequences for Biotic Diversity and Ecological Flows, A. J. Hansen and F. di Castri, Eds., Springer-Verlag, 379–393.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 393 80 5
PDF Downloads 155 55 6