Abstract
Seasonal values of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation were examined in a study of climatic trends and variability for winter and summer in central Montana. Regional trends for the three climatic elements were graphed for the period 1949- 1986. A Student's T-test was utilized in order to detect significant changes. For winter, temperature declined significantly from the 1960s into the 1970s while snowfall increased slightly followed by a slight decrease during the 1980s. For summer, although maximum temperatures were significantly cooler during the 1950s, very little change in temperatures generally occurred. Although rainfall fluctuations were observed, no distinct trends were evident. Variability in these climatic elements was assessed using the Climate Departure Index. For winter, significant increases in variability for both maximum and minimum temperature as well as snowfall totals were found for the latter part of the study period. By contrast, variability during summer decreased slightly through the period, although only the decrease for minimum temperatures from the 1950s to the late 1970s was statistically significant. Overall, no support for the concept of global warming was found in this regional-scale study. This suggests that it is important to consider the regional or local scale when studying the consequences of global climatic change.
Recommended Citation
Lowell, Elizabeth G. and Suckling, Philip W.
(1992)
"Climatic Trends and Variability During Winter and Summer in Central Montana,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 34:
Iss.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol34/iss2/5
