Project 2B

Minimum Temperatures

The warming trends displayed in the Wabash Valley Watershed suggest that global warming has affected the temperature of the region According to the data collected from the latter half of the twentieth century , there is indeed a more pronounced warming of minimum temperatures than maximum temperatures . The minimum temperature of the Wabash Valley Watershed has reached an all-time high for the region taking into account the entire recorded temperature history . The average annual minimum temperature reached the high of 44 degrees Fahrenheit in 1990 , and highs at almost 43

degrees Fahrenheit for the 5-year span , and 42 degrees Fahrenheit for the 10-year trend

Reduced Range of Temperatures

The information gathered on the range of temperatures does suggest a trend consistent with global warming , though not as pronounced as other areas of study . The average daily temperature range in the watershed clearly shows that there is a reduced range of temperatures , though the temperature seems to have remained relatively steady around 20 degrees Fahrenheit a during the period studied

Surplus of Water and Precipitation

Because many experts suggest that the globally warmed environment will see more drought and less surplus water conditions for inland or continental locations such as the Wabash Valley Watershed . Therefore it is expected that some trends in precipitation amounts and the frequency of certain amounts of precipitation would vary . This has been observed in the Wabash Valley Watershed , and the average annual precipitation in the watershed has increased noticeably since the 1960s With a warming climate , precipitation in the Wabash Valley Watershed can be expected to continue on an upward trend , with 10 to 30 percent increases projected across the region by current climate trend models Increases in the proportion of heavy and extreme precipitation appear to be very likely . However , increased evaporation is projected...