Atmospheric circulation comparisons between the 2001 and 2002 and the 1961 and 1988 Canadian prairie droughts

Bonsai, Barrie R.; Wheaton, Elaine

doi:10.3137/ao.430204

Cited by 46 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Previous studies have suggested that Canada experienced one of its most serious and extensive droughts on record in 2001 and that the most severely affected areas occurred in the Canadian Prairies, where the 2001 drought followed two to three consecutive years of below-average rainfall. Some areas of central Canada suffered the driest August on record and western Canada suffered the second consecutive year with the most severe drought on record in 2002 (22). For eastern Canada, Girardin et al (23) showed that climate warming and increases in the amount and frequency of precipitation during the last century had no significant impact on the severity of summer drought.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional drought-induced reduction in the biomass carbon sink of Canada's boreal forests

Peng

Zhu

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

257

219

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The boreal forests, identified as a critical “tipping element” of the Earth's climate system, play a critical role in the global carbon budget. Recent findings have suggested that terrestrial carbon sinks in northern high-latitude regions are weakening, but there has been little observational evidence to support the idea of a reduction of carbon sinks in northern terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we estimated changes in the biomass carbon sink of natural stands throughout Canada's boreal forests using data from long-term forest permanent sampling plots. We found that in recent decades, the rate of biomass change decreased significantly in western Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), but there was no significant trend for eastern Canada (Ontario and Quebec). Our results revealed that recent climate change, and especially drought-induced water stress, is the dominant cause of the observed reduction in the biomass carbon sink, suggesting that western Canada's boreal forests may become net carbon sources if the climate change–induced droughts continue to intensify.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional drought-induced reduction in the biomass carbon sink of Canada's boreal forests

Peng

Zhu

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

257

219

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“…Bonsal and Wheaton (2005) reported that, unlike the typical 1961 and 1988 droughts of the Canadian prairies, where the formation of ridges and troughs had a key role, the 2001-2002 drought on the Canadian prairies had no relationships to large-scale circulation patterns. Instead, the drought was caused by a unique circulation pattern related to a northward extension of a persistent drought of the continental United States.…”

Section: Prairie Droughtmentioning

confidence: 98%

Weather and climate patterns in Canada's prairie grasslands

McGinn¹

2010

Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands (Volume 1): Ecology and Interactions in Grassland Habitats

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Abstract. The underlying uniqueness of Canada's prairie grasslands is its aridity. The dominant air mass of this region is continental in nature and is associated with a relatively low amount of precipitation and high potential evaporation during the summer. Drought in this region is frequent, lasting one to two months on average, and presents a significant barrier to ecological capacity and agriculture. Severe droughts are associated with a stalled anticyclonic system that directs advected moist air around the region. Canada's prairie grasslands receive on average of between 300 and 550 mm of precipitation, most of which is received as rain in spring and summer. Over the last century, changes to the climate have resulted in a general warming trend that is projected to increase further as a result of an enhanced greenhouse gas effect. Native grassland plant diversity and insect populations may shift as a result of expected climate changes.Résumé. Les prairies canadiennes doivent leur caractère unique à leur aridité. La masse d'air dominante dans cette région est continentale, et se caractérise par un degré relativement faible de précipitations et une évaporativité élevée en été. Les sécheresses sont fréquentes dans cette région; elles durent en moyenne de un à deux mois et réduisent sensiblement la capacité limite du paysage et le rendement agricole. Les sécheresses graves sont causées par un système anticyclonique stable qui empêche les courants d'air humide de pénétrer dans la région. Les prairies canadiennes reçoivent en moyenne de 300 à 550 mm de précipitations, la plupart sous forme de pluie au printemps et en été. Au cours du dernier siècle, le changement climatique a provoqué un réchauffement général qui devrait s'intensifier sous l'effet de l'augmentation des concentrations de gaz à effet de serre. La diversité des espèces végétales indigènes et les populations d'insectes pourraient évoluer sous l'effet des changements climatiques attendus.

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“…1). The particular focus was on central Alberta (centred in the Edmonton area) because this region experienced anomalously cold periods during both the most recent -2005(Bonsal and Wheaton, 2005 and 2009 (Wittrock et al, 2010) Prairie droughts. Furthermore, the only long-term radiosonde station for the agricultural region of the Prairies is located at Stony Plain (WSE, WMO ID 71119), Alberta (see Fig.…”

Section: Data and Methods A Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, anomalously cold periods have also been documented during recent severe drought events over this region. These include periods within the well-documented 1999-2005 drought (e.g., Bonsal and Wheaton, 2005;Hanesiak et al, 2011) and that of 2009 (Wittrock et al, 2010). In both cases, mention was only made in passing of such periods, and there was no investigation of the factors leading to them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cold and Hot Periods Associated with Dry Conditions over the Canadian Prairies

et al. 2012

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Dry conditions and droughts are a normal feature of the Canadian Prairie climate. A common perception is that these periods of below-normal precipitation are always associated with above-average temperatures. Using a core region centred near Edmonton, Alberta, this study incorporates gridded temperature and precipitation information for the period 1900-2009 to quantify how often cold, as well as hot, dry conditions occurred. Shorter-term records of atmospheric circulation, upper-air soundings and surface cloud-related variables are then used to examine some of the factors leading to these conditions. Using drought criteria based on the Standardized Precipitation Index, 15 month-long anomalously cold, dry periods were identified; this is about an order of magnitude less than the number of hot, dry periods. Cold periods generally occurred in the late spring and occurred within some of the major droughts affecting the region. The cold periods were linked with the advection of cold, dry air from the north, whereas hot periods were somewhat attributable to air descending the eastern flank of the Western Cordillera. To understand drought fully, all conditions leading to the persistent lack of precipitation need to be considered including those instances with cold temperatures.RÉSUMÉ [Traduit par la redaction] Les conditions sèches et les sécheresses représentent un phénomène normal dans les Prairies. Il est communément admis qu'au cours de ces périodes caractérisées par des précipitations inférieures à la normale, les températures sont invariablement supérieures à la moyenne. Dans notre étude, qui porte sur une région centrale près d'Edmonton en Alberta, nous intégrons les données maillées sur les températures et les précipitations entre 1900 et 2009 afin de quantifier la fréquence à laquelle les conditions sèches par temps froid autant que par temps chaud se sont présentées. Nous nous servons ensuite des enregistrements à court terme de la circulation atmosphérique, d'observations en altitude et de variables de surface liées aux nuages afin d'examiner quelques facteurs responsables de ces conditions. Au moyen de critères de sécheresse établis en fonction de l'Indice des précipitations normales, nous avons établi qu'il y a eu 15 périodes de sécheresse de durée d'un mois par temps anormalement froid, ce qui est inférieur au nombre de périodes de sécheresse par temps chaud. Les périodes froides ont généralement eu lieu à la fin du printemps, pendant quelques-unes des grandes sécheresses qui ont frappé la région. Ces périodes étaient reliées à l'advection de l'air froid et sec provenant du nord; en revanche, les périodes chaudes étaient dans une certaine mesure attribuables à l'air descendant sur le flanc est de la Cordillère nord-américaine. Pour bien comprendre le phénomène des sécheresses, il faut tenir compte de toutes les conditions qui expliquent l'absence persistante de précipitations, y compris les occurrences avec temps froid.

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Atmospheric circulation comparisons between the 2001 and 2002 and the 1961 and 1988 Canadian prairie droughts

Cited by 46 publications

References 20 publications

Regional drought-induced reduction in the biomass carbon sink of Canada's boreal forests

Regional drought-induced reduction in the biomass carbon sink of Canada's boreal forests

Weather and climate patterns in Canada's prairie grasslands

Cold and Hot Periods Associated with Dry Conditions over the Canadian Prairies

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