2002 ARCSS All-Hands Workshop

The Summer Air Temperature Field Near Barrow, Alaska: Preliminary Results

Kenneth M. Hinkel¹, Anna Klene², Frederick E. Nelson^3
1Department of Geography, University of Cincinnati, ML 131, Cincinnati, OH, 45221-0131, USA, Phone 513-556-3421, Fax 513-556-3370, Kenneth.Hinkel@uc.edu
²Department of Geography, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716-2541, USA, Phone 302-831-0789, Fax 302-831-6654, klene@UDel.Edu
³Department of Geography, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716-2541, USA, Phone 302-831-0852, Fax 302-831-6654, Fnelson@udel.edu

The human impact on local climate is most dramatically evidenced as the “urban heat island.” Warmer temperatures are of particular concern in regions underlain by ice-rich permafrost since enhanced ground heat flux can cause permafrost degradation, ground subsidence, and damage to infrastructure and buildings. Beginning in mid-June 2001, 54 temperature data loggers were installed in the vicinity of Barrow, Alaska (71.3° N, 156.5° W), a village of ~4500 people on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. About half of the instruments are in the “urban” area, and located near sites of high winter energy use such as schools, power plants, and shopping centers. The remainder are distributed across the ~100 km² study area to measure the background temperature field. Each instrument mast consists of a 2-channel data logger, which measures and records temperature on an hourly basis. One high-resolution thermistor is installed in a radiation shield mounted 1.8 m above the base and measures air temperature; the other is inserted 5 cm into the organic mat and measures near-surface ground temperature. In addition, a meter stick is installed on some masts to measure snow cover thickness in winter.

This preliminary study examines the summer (mid-June to mid-August) air temperature field only. During this period, the mean daily temperature across the study area was 2.5° C, with an average daily temperature range of 5.6° C. Our preliminary conclusions are: (1) The summer air temperature field is strongly influenced by local meteorological conditions such as cloud cover and wind direction. Large differences in mean daily temperature and daily temperature range are observed across the study area on clear days; (2) A highly localized temperature gradient can develop along the coast of Elson Lagoon or the Chukchi Sea. This maritime effect is determined by wind direction, and appears to develop primarily during the day; (3) As expected, there is no strong urban heat island effect in summer; (4) The summer of 2001 was significantly cooler than normal, especially late in July and in August.

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