Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Final Blog

According to the Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Bellingham will see increased warming accompanying future climate change. The report suggests an increase in temperature for the north est United States between 2-6 degrees Celsius. If this is the trend that happens then following will be an affect on the snow pack of the Cascade Mountains nearby. Warmer winters mean potentially less snow pack which can affect the spring run off for the fluvial systems near Bellingham. Snow pack is also a source of fresh water storage. Ablation of glaciers will continue as annual temperature rises. The snow will no longer be able to make it though the summers.
The MANAGING THE RISKS OF EXTREME EVENTS AND DISASTERS TO ADVANCE CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION article suggests an increase in precipitaion for the area surrounding Bellingham. The increase in precipitation could potentially cause flooding in areas not equipped to deal with increased water flow. The increase is in precipitation could potentially cause  increased weathering and erosion of the hills and mountains surrounding the city. This could cause mass wasting events like mudslides.
Bellingham is a coastal city and, like all coastal cities, will eventually have to deal with the threat of sea level rise. With warming temps, sea level is beginning to rise and this will cause the eventual flooding of communities that are on the coast. People will have to migrate inland causing the communities at higher elevations to become overcrowded.
Ocean temperatures are being affected as well as air temps. Since much of Bellingham's economy relies on the fishing industry, this will cause concern. Warming oceans will cause fish to migrate or die off if they cannot adapt to the temperature changes.
Overall Bellingham could potentially see increased flooding, mudslides, inland migration and economic failure in the fishing industry if temperatures continue to keep rising.  

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Bellingham Climate


        As Bellingham is located in the coastal Pacific Northwest, its climate is affected mostly by its proximity to the ocean. The climate is mild because of the effects of the ocean has on the area. Cool summers and mild winters and rainfall year round. Bellingham, according to the  Koppen-Geiger climate classification, is considered to be a Marine West Coast Climate (Cfb). This means that it is on the western edge of the continent and is poleward of the dry subtropical climates. The Cfb climate extends from Northern California up to the panhandle of Alaska. Similar climates exist in southern Chile and NW Europe.

        Looking at the history of the average high and low temperatures of January and July in Bellingham shows a general lowering temperature trend in the winter and summer of January and July winters but a rising in the summer highs, as shown below:


Year Jan Low Jan High July Low July High
2012 13 60 N/A N/A
2011 30 50 43 79
2010 28 65 46 86
2009 19 52 47 92
2008 21 55 46 80
2007 15 56 48 84
2006 33 63 47 85
2005 15 64 49 82
2004 10 60 51 90
2003 28 60 46 85
2002 19 60 43 84
2001 27 58 47 81
2000 26 52 44 80
1999 26 56 47 80
1998 14 61 48 90
1997 17 59 49 79
1996 9 56 45 82
1995 20 60 49 84
1994 31 59 52 84
1993 19 58 49 76
1992 26 63 54 80
1991 19 59 50 82
1990 27 56 51 83
1989 25 57 48 76
1988 20 63 46 90
1987 23 60 49 81
1986 28 65 45 75


This Chart shows the average highs and lows for January and July in Bellingham since 1986 until present. Below is this chart plotted on four graphs:

This graph shows the trend of the temperature in F for the lows of January in Bellingham.
This graph shows the highs (F) in January in Bellingham.
This graph shows the lows (F) in July in Bellingham.
This graph shows the highs (F) in January in Bellingham.


References:

Köppen Climate Classification. Web. Visited: May 1, 2012.   http://www.elmhurst.edu/~richs/EC/101/KoppenClimateClassification.pdf

Weather Warehouse. Past Monthly Weather for Bellingham, WA. Web. Visited: May 1, 2012.        http://weather- warehouse.com/WeatherHistory/PastWeatherData_Bellingham3Ssw_Bellingham_WA_July.html