Meteorological trends (1991–2004) at Arctic Station, Central West Greenland (69°15'N) in a 130 years perspective

Abstract

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 106(1):45–55, 2006 Meteorological data from Arctic Station (69°15'N, 53°31'W) located on Disko Island (West Greenland) has been analysed for the period 1991–2004 and used to describe the general climate at Disko and to evaluate meteorological trends. Parameters include daily observations of snow cover, sea ice cover and bihourly logged air and ground temperatures, wind regime, pressure, precipitation and solar radiation. Markedly changes can be noted for the study period, including increasing mean annual air temperatures on the order of 0.4° C per year and 50% decrease in sea ice cover. Changes are mainly noted for the winter period and correlate significantly with the NAO-index. But also the summer period has been affected shown as increasing thawing depths and an increase in the growing season. In addition, data has been correlated to the longest record available from Greenland at Ilulissat/Jakobshavn (since 1873). Due to a high correlation between mean monthly air temperatures at the two stations (1991–2004) trends in air temperatures observed at Disko are evaluated in a 130 years perspective. It is concluded that climate changes the last decade are dramatic but that similar changes in air temperatures have occurred previous within the last 130 years.