Introduction
This website began as a personal project to analyze climate trends in Denver, Colorado, where I live. I wanted to understand how global warming was affecting my local area.
After creating the initial Denver climate analysis, I became interested in expanding the project to other regions of the country to compare how different areas are experiencing climate change. This led to the creation of the Atlanta climate analysis section, which uses data from the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport weather station.
The data for this analysis comes from two primary sources: the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We use data from 1930 to the present, with the 30 year windows making up the "normal" climate baseline. This is why our plots and statistics begin in 1960, allowing us to compare current conditions against this established baseline.
I found that many climate websites focus on either current weather or future projections, but there were fewer resources showing clear, easy-to-understand visualizations of historical climate trends. By creating these visualizations, I hope to make climate data more accessible and help people understand how their local climate is changing over time.
Temperature Trends in Atlanta
Average yearly temperatures in Atlanta over the past several decades:
The data reveals a significant warming trend in Atlanta's humid subtropical climate. While the city experiences distinct seasons, the overall trajectory shows a clear increase in average temperatures. The plot includes a linear fit for all years from 1930 to present and also includes a linear fit for the last 60 years, showing the temperature trend in degrees per year. These rising temperatures have important implications for Atlanta's urban heat island effect, air quality, and energy demands, potentially leading to more frequent heat waves and increased cooling requirements during the summer months.
Precipitation Trends in Atlanta
Total yearly precipitation in Atlanta over the past several decades:
Atlanta's precipitation patterns show notable variations over time. The city's humid subtropical climate means relatively even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, though summer months tend to be wetter due to afternoon thunderstorms. The yearly totals can vary significantly, with some years experiencing drought conditions while others see above-average rainfall. This variability is particularly important for Georgia's water resources and the Chattahoochee River watershed. The data helps us understand how climate change might be affecting the region's characteristic rainfall patterns and what that means for the future of water management in the area.