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Abstract

Introduction

Methodology

Results & Discussions

Error and Uncertainty

 This was a GIS project for Geog 376 by BSc Geography and Atmospheric Science undergraduate students with a shared interest in climate change. The focus was on using GIS interpolation techniques to map the distribution of minimum extreme temperature across British Columbia. We attempted to identify any discernable changes over a study period of 30 years and the data used from over 300 weather stations across British Columbia was published by Environment Canada. Extreme Minimum temperature was chosen because it is an important factor in ecological process, including acting as a control mechanism for the Mountain Pine Beetle, outbreaks of which are becoming more common in southern British Columbia.

 Our results found that extreme minimum temperature was impacted by the mean temperatures of which we have seen the highest in recent years. Five of the six mildest years in the study period fell in the period of 1999-2003. Outside of that period a great deal of variation is seen in minimum extreme temperature. The areas which showed the greatest variation are southern inland regions with a high to moderate elevation. Areas which showed the greatest resistance to change included coastal regions in the south, north-Eastern lowland areas east of the Rockies and lower elevations in the North-West.

 A number of problems were identified with the interpolation technique and some raw data errors were found. The project concludes that due to the small time period concerned there is no statistically significant trend to suggest that minimum temperatures are falling. However we have demonstrated a high variation in extreme temperatures and identified the Biogeoclimatic zones which are most vulnerable to climatic change.