Topographic and Geographic Influences on Near-surface Temperature under Different Seasonal Weather Types in Southwestern Alberta ...

• Main Author: Wood, Wendy Helen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Graduate Studies 2017
• Subjects: Geography; Atmospheric Sciences; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; weather; Alberta; temperature; Arctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/28465; https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/11023/3686

Near-surface temperature variability is influenced by geographic and terrain characteristics. My research examines how these influences vary by weather type. This knowledge is used to determine the best methods for modelling temperature in the mountains and prairies in southwestern Alberta, using data collected as part of the Foothills Climate Array (FCA) study. A weather classification system was developed for the area using multivariate statistical analysis, and six weather patterns were identified. Missing temperature data in the FCA are gap-filled using regression equations generated using the most closely correlated station for each site, where correlations are calculated by seasonal weather type. Seasonal weather type correlations improve estimates by ~7% over monthly correlations. The biggest improvements (10 to 20%) occur for chinook and cool-wet days. Cold Arctic air days and hot anticyclonic days in summer show the lowest improvement, indicating strong within-type variability for these weather ...