Climate Change Project

This project was designed to provide information on climate change to Biosphere Reserve communities to aid local planning and management with a specific focus on adaptation strategies.

Climate data were obtained from stations associated with participating Canadian biosphere reserves (Niagara Escarpment, Waterton Lakes, Riding Mountain, Long Point) and proposed biosphere reserves (Kejimkujik). Annual and seasonal series were generated for mean, median and maximum temperatures as well as precipitation, rainfall and snowfall.

Results:

In general, over the period 1940 to 1998, biosphere reserves showed warmer than annual temperatures in the early 1940s and 1950s and from 1980 to 1991.

Within the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, trends showed recent increases in mean and minimum temperatures and in total precipitation and rainfall. The most significant changes are winter and spring warming and increased rainfall for the fall season.

For more information, contact:

Jim Hamilton
Department of Geography & Environmental Studies
Wilfrid Laurier University
519-884-0710 ext. 2061
jhamilto@wlu.ca