The Columbia, Missouri, Heat Island Experiment (COHIX) and the Influence of a Small City on the Local Climatology

The heat island effect is a well known feature in the microclimate of urban areas but only a few studies have addressed the effect for smaller urban areas. We examine here the impact of Columbia, Missouri and the University of Missouri campus on the microclimate (temperature and precipitation) of central Missouri. We purchased twenty Radio Shack® digital Max/Min thermometers and ten standard raised-edge rain gauges and these were given to students, staff, and faculty participants who were chosen for their reliability to provide daily data over the course of a year, site the instrument, and their location (in order to provide reasonable coverage locally). We also included information provided by automated and cooperative weather stations, and the weather station at the regional airport located 11 km (7 miles) southeast of Columbia. Our results indicate that the city has no discernable impact on the distribution of monthly precipitation totals. We found a distinct urban influence on the local surface temperatures, and the inner city region and the urbanized area of south Columbia were approximately 2 - 3 oF (1.0 - 1.5 oC) warmer in the mean than the surrounding environment. This difference grows to 3 - 6 oF (1.5 - 3.5 oC) when comparing the mean of the warmest station in the city to that of coolest station outside Columbia. We also observed a seasonal influence, as the heat island effect was more evident in the mean monthly maximum (minimum) temperatures during the warmest (coldest) months

Interannual and interdecadal variability in the predominant Pacific region SST anomaly patterns and their impact on climate in the mid-Mississippi valley region

Previous research has demonstrated that Pacific Region SSTs and SST anomalies can be separated into seven general synoptic classifications (“clusters”) (A-G). Clusters B and G (C, D, and F) [A and E] were shown to be generally representative of La Niña (El Niño) [neutral] type SST distributions. Further, an analysis of the SST patterns from 1955 - 1993 demonstrated that clusters A - D were prominent from 1955-1977, while types E and F dominated the later period. Type G clusters were comparatively rare, but occurred during both periods. In retrospect, this shift during 1977 corresponds roughly with a change in phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). After updating the analysis to include the 1994 to 2005 period, there was a corresponding change in the predominant SSTs associated with a change in phase of the PDO during 1999 and 2000. The results show that SST patterns did evolve from predominantly E and F-type anomalies in 1994 to A, B, D, and G-type anomalies through 2005. Thus, these results suggest that A through D-type (C, E, and F-type) SST clusters are characteristic of the negative (positive) phase of the PDO. Also, using a modified technique for generating phase diagrams, it is shown that there are interannual and interdecadal variations in the mid-Mississippi region monthly mean surface temperature and precipitation records that can be associated with the ENSO and PDO. Additionally, an analysis was performed to see if there was any statistical association between temperature and precipitation anomalies in the mid-Mississippi region and prolonged SST regimes. B, D and G anomalies were associated with warmer-than-normal conditions, while C and E type anomalies tended to be associated with cooler-than-normal conditions across the region. C, D, F, and G anomalies were associated with drier than normal conditions

Communications Biophysics

Contains research objectives and reports on eight research projects split into three sections.National Institutes of Health (Grant 2 PO1 NS13126)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS18682)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS20322)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS 20269)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 T32 NS 07047)Symbion, Inc.National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 R01 NS10916)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO NS 16917)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS83-19874)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS83-19887)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS12846)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS21322-01)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 T32-NS07099-07)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS14092-06)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS77-21751)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS11080

Communications Biophysics

Contains reports on seven research projects split into three sections, with research objective for the final section.National Institutes of Health (Grant 2 PO1 NS 13126)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS 18682)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS 20322)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS 20269)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 T32 NS 07047)Symbion, Inc.National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS10916)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS16917)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS83-19874)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS83-19887)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS12846)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS21322)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS 11080

Communication Biophysics

Contains reports on six research projects.National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 PO1 NS13126)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS18682)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 RO1 NS20322)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 R01 NS20269)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 T32NS 07047)Symbion, Inc.National Science Foundation (Grant BNS 83-19874)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS 83-19887)National Institutes of Health (Grant 6 RO1 NS 12846)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 NS 21322