Past and future changes in frost day indices in Catskill Mountain region of New York

• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.9937
• Publication Date: 2013-06-19T12:06:42Z
• Authors: Aavudai Anandhi; Mark S. Zion; Prasanna H. Gowda; Donald C. Pierson; David Lounsbury; Allan Frei
• Keywords: Frost (temperature)

Abstract Changes in frost indices the New York's Catskill Mountains region, location of water supply reservoirs for York City, have potentially important implications. Frost day is defined as a with T min < 0 °C. The objective this study was to investigate past and predicted changes minimum temperature (T ) six covering reservoir watersheds. Studied included (1) number days, (2) months frost, (3) last spring freeze date (LSF), (4) first fall (FFF), (5) growing season length (GSL), (6) length. Past were studied using observed daily each watershed periods 1960–2008. Future (2045–2065 2080–2100) emission scenarios (A1B, A2, B1) downscaled from global climate models (GCMs). Results indicated general increase average GSL decrease length, earlier LSF, later FFF historical future periods, magnitude change varied among watersheds GCMs. For period 1960–2000, all (except Cannonsville), LSF occurred by 2.6–4.3 days/decade, 2.7–3.2 day/decade, longer 2.4–4 day/decade. Among GCMs, 4–11 4.5–15 days/decade 2045–2065 2081–2100, respectively; 1–10 4–13 10–25 13–40 respectively. expected affect hydrologic, ecosystem, biogeochemical processes increased net primary productivity resulting total annual evapotranspiration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.