Abstract
Evidence is presented that suggests that annual and seasonal temperatures are in phase throughout the New Zealand region for climatic variation. Annual and seasonal temperature curves dating back to 1853 based on the longest instrumental records show a warming of over 1 °C between the early 1860's and the present day, with a 0.5 °C discontinuity since the mid 1940's. Although the warming is regional, the magnitude and timing of the fluctuations vary because of the country's high relief, and wide latitude range. These factors give differing exposure to the atmosphere and oceanic circulations, the resultant interaction of which allows the country to be divided into six temperature response areas which are homogeneous for fluctuations. The information of the last fifty years in these areas is compared. The story from the longer record is supported by phenomena documented from historical sources such as glacial variations, iceberg sightings, and severe snowstorm occurrences. The length and intensity of the growing season is examined in two climatically different areas of New Zealand to ascertain the agricultural significance of the described climate record.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becker, N. J.: 1977, Selection of Vineyard Sites in Cool Climates. Australian Wine Research Institute Technical Conference, Albury.
Brodie, J. W.: 1960, Coastal surface currents around New Zealand. N.Z. Journal of Geology and Geophysics 3, 235–52.
Browne, M. L.: 1975, Anticyclones in the Australia-New Zealand region. N.Z. Met. Service Tech. J. Note 228.
Burrows, C. J.: 1976a, Exceptional snowstorms in the South Island High Country. Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute Review, 32, 43–47.
Burrows, C. J.: 1976b, Icebergs in the Southern Ocean. New Zealand Geographer 32, 127–138.
Burrows, C. J.: 1977, Late pleistocene and holocene glacial episodes in the South Island, New Zealand and some climatic implications. New Zealand Geographer 33, 34–39.
Coulter, JD., 1974, Note on the estimation of Degree-days. N.Z. Journal of Science 17, 259–263.
Garnier, B. J. (Ed.): 1950, New Zealand weather and climate. New Zealand Geographical Society, 152 pp.
Lamb, H. H.: 1977, Climate; Past, Present and Future. Vol. 2, Methuen, London, 858 pp.
Madden, R. A., and Williams, J.: 1978, The correlation between temperature and precipitation in the United States and Europe. Mon. Wea. Rev. 106, 142–147.
Manley, G., 1974, Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 100, 389.
Maunder, W. J.: 1966, Climatic variations and dairy production in New Zealand - a review. N.Z. Sci. Review 24, 69–73.
Maunder, W. J.: 1977, Weather and climate as factors in forecasting national dairy production. In Management of dynamic systems in New Zealand agriculturre. DSIR Information Series 129, 101–126.
Mitchell, J. M.: 1961, Recent secular changes of global temperature. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 95, 235–250.
Mitchell, J. M., Dzerdzeevskii, B., Flohn, H., Hofmeyre, W. L., Lamb, H. H., Rao, K. N., and Wallen, C. C.: 1966, Climatic Change. World Meteorological Organisation Tech. Note, No. 79, WMO-No. 195, TP. 100, 79 pp.
Posamentier, H. W.: 1977, A new climatic model for glacial behaviour of the Austrian Alps, J. Glaciology 18, 57–66.
Holmes, R. M., and Robertson, G. W.: 1959, Heat Units and Crop Growth, Canada Department of Agriculture, Publication 1042, 35 pp.
Salinger, M. J.: 1976, New Zealand temperatures since 1300 A.D. Nature 260, 310–311.
Salinger, M. J.: 1978, Dunedin temperatures since 1853, Proceedings of the Ninth Geog. Conf., 106–109.
Salinger, M. J.: 1979, Climatic regions of New Zealand based on cluster techniques, The New Zealand Statistician 14, 26–34.
Salinger, M. J., and Gunn, J. M.: 1975, Recent climatic warming around New Zealand. Nature 256, 396–398.
Thornthwaite, C. W., and Hare, F. K.: 1955, Climatic classification in forestry, Unasylva 9, 51–59.
Tomlinson, A. I.: 1975, Section on climate, In New Zealand Atlas, Ward, I. (Ed.), Government Printer, Wellington, 82–89.
Trenberth, K. E.: 1973, Possible sea surface temperature influences on short term climate in New Zealand, N.Z. Met. Service Tech. Note 218.
Trenberth, K. E.: 1976, Fluctuations and trends in indices of the southern hemisphere circulation. Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 102, 499–513.
Trenberth, K. E.: 1977, Climate and climatic change: A New Zealand perspective, N.Z. Met. Service, Wellington. 51 pp.
van Loon, H., and Williams, J.: 1976, The connection between trends of mean temperature and circulation at the surface: Part I, Winter. Mon. Wea. Rev. 104, 365–380.
Wardle, P.: 1973, Variations of the glaciers of Westland National Park and the Hooker Range. N.Z. Journal of Botany 11, 349–388.
Watts, I. E. M.: 1947, The relation of New Zealand weather and climate: An analysis of the westerlies. New Zealand Geographer 3, 115–129.
Wilson, A. T.: 1964, Origin of ice ages: An ice shelf theory for Pleistocene glaciation. Nature 201, 147–149.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salinger, M.J. New Zealand climate: The temperature record, historical data and some agricultural implications. Climatic Change 2, 109–126 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133218
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133218