Air temperature and precipitation changes in the Kaffiøyra region (NW Spitsbergen) from 1975 to 2010

Abstract

Air temperature and precipitation conditions in the Kaffiøyra region in the summer season (21st July–31st August) for the period of 1975–2010 are described: 1) on the basis of data gathered in 18 expeditions during which meteorological measurements were done, and 2) on the basis of complete series of data combining both original and reconstructed data. The latter ones were obtained using data from Ny Ålesund meteorological station, which are strongly correlated with the data from Kaffiøyra. Seasonal statistics presented for air temperature and precipitation based on these two sets of data reveal only slight changes. Temperature parameters (daily mean, maximum and minimum) for summer in Kaffiøyra in the study period (1975–2010) show upward trends, which are, however, statistically significant only for the daily mean. On the other hand, precipitation totals in the study period reveal a downward trend, but not statistically significant. Such thermal-precipitation behaviour in the study part of Spitsbergen in general terms is similar to those in other parts of Spitsbergen.