Evidence for a rising cloud ceiling in eastern North America

Andrew D. Richardson, Ellen G. Denny, Thomas G. Siccama, Xuhui Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

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 ± I SE (tandard error). p ≤ 0.001] acroos all stations. the terend 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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2093-2098
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Climate
Volume16
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atmospheric Science

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