Some Local Climate Trends in Four Cities of New York State

Abstract

From historical weather records, a preliminary assessment was made of local climate changes in four major urban areas of New York State. Particular emphasis was placed on cold season precipitation and possible relationships to man's activities. Total snowfall was found to have increased significantly from about 1940, the start of a period of sharp increases in urbanization and industrialization. The relationship was merely coincidental, with the underlying cause of snowfall increases due to natural causes, apparently in part to a corresponding decline in ambient temperature. A few climate trends appeared linked to anthropogenic causes, particularly in New York City.