Authors
Pam Miller1, Martin Mitchell1, Jose Lopez1
1 Minnesota State University, Mankato
Abstract
Length of growing-season data were obtained from 90 weather stations covering the core of the U.S. Corn Belt from 1911-2000 and analyzed qualitatively and statistically to ascertain if any systematic trends in warming were/are occurring within the context of global warming. We found that the 1920s were statistically cooler and the 1990s warmer. No discernible trend was statistically found throughout the 90-year period. Qualitatively, the onset of the growing season occurred at an earlier date as the 20th century progressed, but was not found statistically significant. Trends regarding termination dates were inconclusive.
Keywords
growing-season length, Corn Belt, global warming, climate change, nonparametric studies
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