Observed Space and Time Changes in Air Temperatures and Daily Temperature Range for the Counties in the U.S. Great Plains

Understanding the magnitude and direction of potential changes in climate variables is important to better understand the relationships between these changes and agricultural production, water resources, irrigation practices, and related topics. Better evaluation of the relationships between climate variables and agriculture also requires studying these relationships on large scales. This Nebraska Extension Circular presents scientific data, analyses, and interpretation using visual maps and discussion of (i) geographic variability (trends) that exists in patterns of historical air temperatures (maximum, minimum, and average) and daily temperature range across the United States Great Plains; (ii) the temporal (1968–2013) changes that have been observed in these variables; and (iii) potential consequences and significance of these changes in light of agricultural production in the Great Plains. The study region comprises nine states and 834 counties from Texas to North Dakota and from Iowa to Colorado and is about 30 percent of the surface area of the continental United States.