The urban heat island effect at Fairbanks, Alaska

Using climatic data from Fail banks and rurally situated Eielson Air Force Base in Interior Alaska, the growth of the Fairbanks heat island was studie d for the time period 1949-1997. The climate records were examined to disti nguish between a general warming trend and the changes due to an increasing heat island effect. Over the 49-year period, the population of Fairbanks g rew by more than 500%, while the population of Eielson remained relatively constant. The mean annual heat island observed at the Fairbanks Internation al Airport grew by 0.4 degrees C, with the winter months experiencing a Ine rt significant increase of 1.0 degrees C. Primary focus was directed toward long-term heat island characterization based on season, wind speed, cloud cover, and time of day. In all cases, the minima temperatures were affected more than maxima and periods of calm or low wind speeds, clear winter sky conditions, and nighttime exhibited the largest heat island effects.