Changing behavior in the diurnal range of surface air temperatures over Mexico

Abstract

The diurnal range in surface temperatures (DTR = maximum − minimum temperature) has been widely used as one indicator of potential climate change. On hemispheric space scales DTR trends over about the last half‐century tend to be decreasing. This paper analyzes regional scale trends in DTR for Mexico (1940–2001). Our principal finding is that in recent decades (post‐1970) DTR trends over Mexico are positive as maximum temperatures are warming at a significantly higher rate than minimum temperatures. Regional land use and land cover changes (LCCs) are identified as potential forcing mechanisms responsible for at least part of the observed DTR behavior.