MODIS-Derived Nighttime Arctic Land-Surface Temperature Nascent Trends and Non-Stationary Changes

Arctic nighttime land-surface temperatures derived by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors onboard the NASA Terra and Aqua satellites are investigated. We use the local equator crossing times of 22:30 and 01:30, respectively, in the analysis of changes, trends and variations on the Arctic region and within 120° sectors. We show increases in the number of days above 0°C and significant increase trends over their decadal periods of March 2000 through 2010 (MODIS Terra) and July 2002 through 2012 (MODIS Aqua). The MODIS Aqua nighttime Arctic land-surface temperature change, +0.2°C ¬± 0.2°C with P-value of 0.01 indicates a reduction relative to the MODIS Terra nighttime Arctic land-surface temperature change, +1.8°C ¬± 0.3°C with P-value of 0.01. This reduction is a decadal non-stationary component of the Arctic land-surface temperature changes. The reduction is greatest, -1.3°C ¬± 0.2°C with P-value of 0.01 in the Eastern Russia‚Äî Western North American sector of the Arctic during the July 2002 through 2012.

Citation

Muskett, R.. 2014. MODIS-Derived Nighttime Arctic Land-Surface Temperature Nascent Trends and Non-Stationary Changes. American Journal of Climate Change. 3: 169-177. http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=47223. DOI: doi: 10.4236/ajcc.2014.32016.