Downscaling Maximum Temperatures to Subkilometer Resolutions in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia, USA. (31st August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Temple R.; De Wekker, Stephan F. J.; Wofford, John E. B.
• Other Names: Anyah Richard Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Advances in meteorology. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-08-31
• Subjects: Meteorology -- Periodicals; Meteorology; Periodicals; 551.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/594965
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9309

Abstract

Abstract : Downscaling future temperature projections to mountainous regions is vital for many applications, including ecological and water resource management. In this study, we demonstrate a method to downscale maximum temperatures to subkilometer resolutions using the Parameter-elevation Regression on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM). We evaluate the downscaling method with observations from a network of temperature sensors deployed along western and eastern slopes of Virginia's Shenandoah National Park in the southern Appalachian Mountains. We find that the method overestimates mean July maximum temperatures by about 2°C (4°C) along the western (eastern) slopes. Based on this knowledge, we introduce corrections to generate maps of current and future maximum temperatures in the Shenandoah National Park.