WhiteCAP_Plan_01SEPT..

NCE WhiteCAP Climate Projections
Growing Season
The projected growing season projected below corresponds to the number of days
between spring thaw and autumn freeze-up, as defined by the time at which mean
temperatures cross 0°. This time span does not correspond to growing season for
crops, and is a simple measure of how a warmer climate may affect Yukon in the spring
and fall. These data were derived by interpolating daily temperature values based on
linear temperature ramps between monthly means. Mean values were assumed to occur
in the middle of each month.
The growing season for the Whitehorse area is projected to increase in all projections;
rising from 150 days to 168-175 days by 2050, an addition of 18-25 days. Table 6 shows
the number of days that will be added to the growing season over time and by SRES
scenario. The area benefiting from a longer growing season is also expected to increase
in size with a more significant onset of climate change.
Table 6: Projected change in Growing Season (days)
Baseline
B1 A1B
(1961-1990) 2030 2050 2030 2050
Growing
Season
150 165 168 162 175
∆ Change - 15 18 12 25
E.17