Trends in Daily Temperature and Precipitation Extremes for the Southeastern United States: 1948–2012

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1592-1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J. Powell ◽  
Barry D. Keim
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Modes Of Variability ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Extreme Precipitation Events

Abstract Spatial and temporal trends in temperature and precipitation extremes were investigated for the period 1948–2012 across the southeastern United States using 27 previously defined indices. Results show that regionwide warming in extreme minimum temperatures and cooling in extreme maximum temperatures occurred. The disproportionate changes in extreme daytime and nighttime temperatures are narrowing diurnal temperature ranges for most locations. The intensity and magnitude of extreme precipitation events increased overall, except for more easterly locations, particularly in South Carolina. These indices further show that warming in minimum temperatures has been pronounced most in summer and least in winter. Fall has become significantly wetter, while spring and summer have become drier, on average. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to characterize a “geography of extremes” based on temperature and precipitation extreme indices. The PCA based on temperature indices revealed two coherent western and eastern subregions that share common modes of variability in extremes. Precipitation indices resulted in a greater number of smaller, spatially coherent groups exhibiting similar modes of variability. This classification regime illustrates important variations in extremes that exist on subregional scales. These findings have relevance for established climate research institutes, local governments, resource managers, and community planners interested in the variability of extreme events throughout the region.

Shell Mounds in the Southeast: Middens, Monuments, Temple Mounds, Rings, or Works?

2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Marquardt
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mound Construction ◽  
Architectural Features ◽  
Shell Mounds ◽  
Shell Rings ◽  
Oriented Approach

Focusing on the southeastern United States, I provide some alternative perspectives on shell mounds previously interpreted as architectural features, temple mounds, and feasting sites. The same pattern of deposition often inferred to indicate mound construction—darker-colored, highly organic strata alternating with lighter-colored, shell-rich strata—can be accounted for by domestic midden accumulation and disposal of refuse away from living areas. Observed abundances of particular shell species can result from local or regional ecological conditions. Site complexes interpreted as architectural may have evolved largely in response to short-term climate changes. Shell rings on the Georgia and South Carolina coasts probably functioned to conserve and store unconfined water. To understand ancient shell mounds, we need a sediment-oriented approach to the study of mound deposits and more attention to the environmental contexts in which shell mounds accumulated.

scholarly journals Fungicide Rotation Programs for Managing Phytophthora Fruit Rot of Watermelon in Southeastern United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrasekar (Shaker) S. Kousik ◽  
Pingsheng Ji ◽  
Daniel S. Egel ◽  
Lina M. Quesada-Ocampo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Phytophthora Capsici ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fruit Rot ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Before And After

About 50% of the watermelons in the United States are produced in the southeastern states, where optimal conditions for development of Phytophthora fruit rot prevail. Phytophthora fruit rot significantly limits watermelon production by causing serious yield losses before and after fruit harvest. Efficacy of fungicide rotation programs and Melcast-scheduled sprays for managing Phytophthora fruit rot was determined by conducting experiments in Phytophthora capsici-infested fields at three locations in southeastern United States (North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). The mini seedless cultivar Wonder and seeded cultivar Mickey Lee (pollenizer) were used. Five weekly applications of fungicides were made at all locations. Significant fruit rot (53 to 91%, mean 68%) was observed in the nontreated control plots in all three years (2013 to 2015) and across locations. All fungicide rotation programs significantly reduced Phytophthora fruit rot compared with nontreated controls. Overall, the rotation of Zampro alternated with Orondis was highly effective across three locations and two years. Rotations of Actigard followed by Ranman+Ridomil Gold, Presidio, V-10208, and Orondis, or rotation of Revus alternated with Presidio were similarly effective. Use of Melcast, a melon disease-forecasting tool, may occasionally enable savings of one spray application without significantly impacting control. Although many fungicides are available for use in rotations, under very heavy rain and pathogen pressure, the fungicides alone may not offer adequate protection; therefore, an integrated approach should be used with other management options including well-drained fields.

Recent Research Concerning the Freezing Point Value of Milk Produced in the Southeastern United States

1963 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-736
Author(s):  
R W Henningson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Freezing Point ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Extensive Survey ◽  
Milk Solids

Abstract In 1953 Dahlberg, et al. published the first information indicating that the freezing point value of milk produced in the Southeastern United States might be higher than commonly accepted values. An extensive survey of retail milk marketed in South Carolina during 1957 produced an unweighted average freezing point value of –0.529°C, and disclosed that the unweighted average milk solids-not-fat content of retail milk marketed in South Carolina was 8.88%. Other surveys revealed such freezing point values as –0.537, –0.540, –-0.533, –0.528, and –0.532°C. Custer and Cardwell found freezing point depressions averaging 0.025—0.030°C less for reconstituted non-fat milks of southern origin than for similar milks of northern origin. The lactose and chloride contents of these milks were lower than those of the northern milks. Problems created by high freezing point values which are intensified by the effects of vacuum pasteurization, common in the Southeastern United States, on freezing point values will be discussed.

scholarly journals Evaluation of NASA’s MERRA Precipitation Product in Reproducing the Observed Trend and Distribution of Extreme Precipitation Events in the United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 693-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Ashouri ◽  
Soroosh Sorooshian ◽  
Kuo-Lin Hsu ◽  
Michael G. Bosilovich ◽  
Jaechoul Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Extreme Precipitation ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
The United States ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Extreme Value ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Precipitation Product ◽  
Extreme Precipitation Events ◽  
Precipitation Events

Abstract This study evaluates the performance of NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) precipitation product in reproducing the trend and distribution of extreme precipitation events. Utilizing the extreme value theory, time-invariant and time-variant extreme value distributions are developed to model the trends and changes in the patterns of extreme precipitation events over the contiguous United States during 1979–2010. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) U.S. Unified gridded observation data are used as the observational dataset. The CPC analysis shows that the eastern and western parts of the United States are experiencing positive and negative trends in annual maxima, respectively. The continental-scale patterns of change found in MERRA seem to reasonably mirror the observed patterns of change found in CPC. This is not previously expected, given the difficulty in constraining precipitation in reanalysis products. MERRA tends to overestimate the frequency at which the 99th percentile of precipitation is exceeded because this threshold tends to be lower in MERRA, making it easier to be exceeded. This feature is dominant during the summer months. MERRA tends to reproduce spatial patterns of the scale and location parameters of the generalized extreme value and generalized Pareto distributions. However, MERRA underestimates these parameters, particularly over the Gulf Coast states, leading to lower magnitudes in extreme precipitation events. Two issues in MERRA are identified: 1) MERRA shows a spurious negative trend in Nebraska and Kansas, which is most likely related to the changes in the satellite observing system over time that has apparently affected the water cycle in the central United States, and 2) the patterns of positive trend over the Gulf Coast states and along the East Coast seem to be correlated with the tropical cyclones in these regions. The analysis of the trends in the seasonal precipitation extremes indicates that the hurricane and winter seasons are contributing the most to these trend patterns in the southeastern United States. In addition, the increasing annual trend simulated by MERRA in the Gulf Coast region is due to an incorrect trend in winter precipitation extremes.

Collaborative Regionalism and Foreign Direct Investment

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Northeast Mississippi ◽  
Assembly Plants ◽  
Fiscal Distress

Jurisdictions in the Southeast Automotive Core (SEAC), encompassing Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, have attracted 8 of the 11 light vehicles assembly plants built by the “New Domestics” in the United States over the past 20 years (i.e., Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and BMW). Through case studies of the Toyota-PUL Alliance of Northeast Mississippi and the Hyundai-Kia Auto Valley Partnership of east-central Alabama and west-central Georgia, this article chronicles how by working together, certain subregions within the SEAC have gained a comparative advantage in their competitions for New Domestics Foreign Direct Investment. Overall, the findings of this study show how local governments in the form of the collaborative region still can be an important economic development agent within an ever-globalizing economy. As a result, this article should prove informative to development scholars and practitioners in the United States and Canada, especially in areas combating economic/fiscal distress.

scholarly journals Seasonal Hydrological Forecasts for Watersheds over the Southeastern United States for the Boreal Summer and Fall Seasons

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (25) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satish Bastola ◽  
Vasubandhu Misra ◽  
Haiqin Li
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Hydrological Models ◽  
State University ◽  
Streamflow Prediction ◽  
Seasonal Climate ◽  
Hydrological Prediction

Abstract The authors evaluate the skill of a suite of seasonal hydrological prediction experiments over 28 watersheds throughout the southeastern United States (SEUS), including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The seasonal climate retrospective forecasts [the Florida Climate Institute–Florida State University Seasonal Hindcasts at 50-km resolution (FISH50)] is initialized in June and integrated through November of each year from 1982 through 2001. Each seasonal climate forecast has six ensemble members. An earlier study showed that FISH50 represents state-of-the-art seasonal climate prediction skill for the summer and fall seasons, especially in the subtropical and higher latitudes. The retrospective prediction of streamflow is based on multiple calibrated rainfall–runoff models. The hydrological models are forced with rainfall from FISH50, (quantile based) bias-corrected FISH50 rainfall (FISH50_BC), and resampled historical rainfall observations based on matching observed analogs of forecasted quartile seasonal rainfall anomalies (FISH50_Resamp). The results show that direct use of output from the climate model (FISH50) results in huge biases in predicted streamflow, which is significantly reduced with bias correction (FISH50_BC) or by FISH50_Resamp. On a discouraging note, the authors find that the deterministic skill of retrospective streamflow prediction as measured by the normalized root-mean-square error is poor compared to the climatological forecast irrespective of how FISH50 (e.g., FISH50_BC, FISH50_Resamp) is used to force the hydrological models. However, our analysis of probabilistic skill from the same suite of retrospective prediction experiments reveals that, over the majority of the 28 watersheds in the SEUS, significantly higher probabilistic skill than climatological forecast of streamflow can be harvested for the wet/dry seasonal anomalies (i.e., extreme quartiles) using FISH50_Resamp as the forcing. The authors contend that, given the nature of the relatively low climate predictability over the SEUS, high deterministic hydrological prediction skills will be elusive. Therefore, probabilistic hydrological prediction for the SEUS watersheds is very appealing, especially with the current capability of generating a comparatively huge ensemble of seasonal hydrological predictions for each watershed and for each season, which offers a robust estimate of associated forecast uncertainty.

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