Climate Change Indicators in New Jersey and New York

Annual temperatures in New Jersey and New York have experienced a rise of around 3°F since the beginning of the 20th century, with these rates doubling since 1970. This warming would be expected to affect other climate variables, such as trends of frequency of extreme temperatures, changes in monthly average sea surface temperatures, the freeze period of small lakes, and the growing season of certain plants. Our research has shown that the frequency of extreme temperatures, such as the days in which the maximum temperature is at or above 90°F, is increasing. Small lakes are showing a decrease in the number of days in which the surface is frozen. Monthly average sea surface temperatures, as well as the growing season of crops and other plant species are also to be investigated. Data are being collected from various Co-Op temperature stations, buoys, and resources such as National Snow & Ice Data Center.