Further questions may be directed to Dr. Tom Goddard, tom.goddard@gov.ab.ca or (780) 427-3720, or Dr. Sam Shen at shen@ualberta.ca or 780-492-0216 (office phone).
Main media features are below.
3.1. The amount of precipitation that falls between May to August has increased overall by 14%. However this precipitation change has spatial variability across Alberta. The north and northwest regions of the province had the largest increment of precipitation increase (ranging from 30 to 90 mm). Whereas in central and southern areas, the precipitation increases were smaller or even negative, but then the precipitation change becomes large again in the southeast corner (reaching 30 mm).
3.2. No significant long-term changes were found in growing seasons’ length and the dates of when they started and ended.
3.3. The date for the last spring frost has come earlier and the date of the first fall frost has come later. Also a longer frost-free period was obvious for all regions of the province. This trend then reduces the risk of frost damage to crops.
3.4. The area now suitable for corn planting has extended northwards in the province by about 200 to 300 km compared to that of the 1913 to1932 normal and by about 50 to 100 km compared to that of the 1943 to 1972 normal.
3.5.
A warming trend exists in Alberta, which will affect crop and
livestock management decisions, however this trend does vary with
location. Although the warming climate
and increased precipitation benefit agriculture in Alberta, more studies need
to be made in the future. In addition,
the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture are far more complicated
that what the nine agroclimatic parameters have addressed here.
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