COMPARISON OF LONG-TERM CHANGES IN AIR AND SOIL TEMPERATURES AT URBANA, ILLINOIS

STANLEY A. CHANGNON JR. Illinois State Water Survey, Urbana, III.

Search for other papers by STANLEY A. CHANGNON JR. in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Full access

Abstract

Research concerning long-term temperature changes in the United States has shown the need to adjust measured increases in the 1901–1950 period to remove the effects of environmental changes. Unique long-term 3-ft. soil temperature data at Urbana, III., provide a measure of the natural increase in temperature in the 1903–1947 period and also permit an evaluation of the increase shown by the air temperature at Urbana. The increase in mean annual soil temperatures between 1903 and 1947 amounted to 1.2° F. The mean annual air temperatures during this period inercased 2.3° F., but when adjusted statistically to remove environmental effects, the natural increase in the air temperature was 1.1° F. Thus, at Urbana, the adjusted increase in air temperatures appears to be substantiated by the increase shown by the 3-ft. soil temperature data.

Abstract

Research concerning long-term temperature changes in the United States has shown the need to adjust measured increases in the 1901–1950 period to remove the effects of environmental changes. Unique long-term 3-ft. soil temperature data at Urbana, III., provide a measure of the natural increase in temperature in the 1903–1947 period and also permit an evaluation of the increase shown by the air temperature at Urbana. The increase in mean annual soil temperatures between 1903 and 1947 amounted to 1.2° F. The mean annual air temperatures during this period inercased 2.3° F., but when adjusted statistically to remove environmental effects, the natural increase in the air temperature was 1.1° F. Thus, at Urbana, the adjusted increase in air temperatures appears to be substantiated by the increase shown by the 3-ft. soil temperature data.

Save