Does an August Singularity Exist in the Northern Rockies of the United States?

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Paul A. Knapp, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: temporal variability. Significant deviations from normal daily maximum temperatures that occur following the passage of a strong midlatitude cyclone in mid- to late August in the northern Rocky Mountains of the United States are recognized in the local culture as the “August Singularity.” Daily standardized maximum temperature anomalies for August–October were examined for eight climate stations in Montana and Idaho as indicators of major midlatitude storms. The data indicate that a single-day negative maximum temperature singularity exists for 13 August. Further, a 3-day singularity event exists for 24–26 August. It is concluded that the concept of an August Singularity in the northern Rockies is valid, because the high frequency of recorded negative maximum temperature anomalies suggests that there are specific time intervals during late summer that are more likely to experience a major midlatitude storm. The principal benefit to society for the August Singularity is that the reduced temperatures help in the efforts to control wildfires that are common this time of year in the northern Rockies.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Summer/warm season, annual variations, Temperature, Mountain meteorology, Seasonal effects

Email this document to