A Detailed Examination of Dew Point Trends and Characteristics for Salisbury, Maryland

Keywords: dew point, Delmarva Peninsula
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

This study investigates dew point characteristics for Salisbury, Maryland for the period 1998 – 2021. Hourly dew point temperature data were collected from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) for Salisbury, Maryland to examine the overall percentage of the hours within a year with an observed dew point temperature above two specific thresholds (70oF and 75oF) and the seasonal timing of the high dew point season (HDS). Results indicate considerable variability with increasing trends in the number of hours per year for both thresholds. The HDS was calculated by identifying the first and last date with a dew point of at least 70oF and 75oF. Box plots were created to examine their variability in timing and duration. The HDS for 70oF ranges from mid-April to late December while the HDS for 75oF ranges from early-May to mid-October. There is considerable variability in the timing and length of the HDS for both thresholds. There is an increasing trend in the length of each HDS. The observed changes in humidity provide additional observational evidence of climate change that could affect human comfort and potentially influence precipitation amounts. This study will be expanded to include the entire Delmarva Peninsula and possibly additional areas along the East Coast of the United States. The greatest challenge faced in working with hourly data is the inconsistent reporting of the observations, resulting in the need to create a unique methodology to prepare the data for analysis.