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Historical trend in ice thickness on the Piscataquis River in central Maine.

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Abstract

We analyzed a long-term record of ice thickness on the Piscataquis River in central Maine to determine whether there were temporal trends that were associated with climate warming. Trends in ice thickness were compared and correlated with regional time series of winter air temperature, heating degree days (HDD) , date of river ice-out, seasonal center-of-volume date (SCVD) (date on which half of the stream runoff volume during the period 1 Jan and 31 May has occurred), water temperature, and lake ice-out date. All of these variables except lake ice-out date showed significant temporal trends during the 20th century. Average ice thickness around 28 Feb. decreased by about 23 cm from 1912 to 2001. Over the period 1900 to 1999, winter air temperature increased by 1.7 ˚C and HDD decreased by about 7.5%. Final ice-out date on the Piscataquis River occurred earlier (advanced), by 0.23 days yr–1 over the period 1931 to 2002. The SCVD advanced by 0.11 days yr–1 over the period 1903 to 2001. Ice thickness was significantly correlated with winter air temperature, HDD, river ice-out, and SCVD (P-value < 0.01). These systematic temporal trends in multiple hydrologic indicator variables indicate a coherent response to climate forcing.

Publication type Conference Paper
Title Historical trend in ice thickness on the Piscataquis River in central Maine.
ISBN 9780920081242
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Contributing office(s) Maine Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center
Description 14 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Proceedings of the 59th Eastern Snow Conference, June 5-7, 2002, Stowe, VT
First page 299
Last page 312
Country United States
State Maine
Other Geospatial Piscataquis River
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