Cold Spells ...

• Main Authors: R.E. Schulze, M. Maharaj
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: University of KwaZulu-Natal 2007
• Subjects: cold spells; minimum temperature; severe weather; Weather and climate; Regional and seasonal variability; Exteme events; Disaster management; Agents of disaster; Commercial forestry; Physiological stress drivers; Agriculture; Biophysical variables; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.15493/sarva.beeh.10000033; https://api.odp.saeon.ac.za/catalog/SAEON/go/10.15493/SARVA.BEEH.10000033

In South Africa cold spells are defined as 3 or more consecutive days with minimum temperatures below 2.5 degree Celsius, severe cold spells are 3 or more consecutive days with minima below freezing point, i.e. 0 degree Celsius, while extreme cold spells are defined as 3 or more consecutive days with temperatures below -2.5 degree Celsius. In South Africa the main causes of cold spells are outbreaks of Antarctic air which follow cold fronts, and in the southern hemisphere with its vast tracts of oceans, these cold fronts are frequently well developed. Cold spells affect many sectors, including health, especially exposure to low temperatures, energy, with marked increases in electricity consumption for heating purposes. In agriculture some consequences of cold spells include frost and freeze impacts, especially if the cold spells occur early or livestock losses, where the livestock has not been protected from the cold. The temperature database created for South Africa by Schulze and Maharaj (2004) was used to ...