The number of days a year the ambient outdoor temperature falls below a baseline temperature and leads people to heat their homes or buildings.
Used to calculate:fossil fuels consumed and biomass fuels consumed
Varies by: climate
| Used | climate | Reference | Location: Ecosystem (study period) |
Value | Units | Notes |
|---|
| * | Baseline Climate (1970-2010) | National Climatic Data Center 2010- 1981-2010 Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days | La Guardia Airport, New York City: urban area (1981-2010) | 275 | days | |
| * | Future Climate in 2020s | National Climatic Data Center 2010- 1981-2010 Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days | Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia: urban area (1981-2010) | 277 | days | Based on climate change projections given in Horton et al. (2009), we assume that New York's climate in 2020 will resemble that of Washington, D.C. today. |
| Future Climate in 2020s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 315 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply a conservative increase of 2 degrees Fahrenheit to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2020s. | |
| Future Climate in 2020s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 311 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply an increase of 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit, based on the mean of the middle 50th percentile projections to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2020s. | |
| * | Future Climate in 2050s | National Climatic Data Center 2010- 1981-2010 Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days | Charlotte-Douglas International Airport: urban area (1981-2010) | 256 | days | Based on climate change projections given in Horton et al. (2009), we assume that New York's climate in 2050 will resemble that of Charlotte, NC today. |
| Future Climate in 2050s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 295 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply a conservative increase of 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2050s. | |
| Future Climate in 2050s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 266 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply an increase of 4.9 degrees Fahrenheit, based on the mean of the middle 50th percentile projections to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2050s. | |
| * | Future Climate in 2080s | National Climatic Data Center 2010- 1981-2010 Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days | Savannah International Airport, Savannah, GA: urban area (1981-2010) | 216 | days | Based on climate change projections given in Horton et al. (2009), we assume that New York's climate in 2080 will resemble that of Savannah, GA today. |
| Future Climate in 2080s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 309 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply a conservative increase of 5.3 degrees Fahrenheit to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2080s. | |
| Future Climate in 2080s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 251 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply an increase of 7.05 degrees Fahrenheit, based on the mean of the middle 50th percentile projections to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2080s. | |
| * | Future Climate in 2100s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 288 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply a conservative increase of 5.8 degrees Fahrenheit to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2100s. |
| Future Climate in 2100s | Rosenzweig et al 2015 NPCC 2015 | New York City: urban area () | 253 | days | Based on Rosenzweig et al. (2015), we apply an increase of 8.05 degrees Fahrenheit, based on the mean of the middle 50th percentile projections to determine the equivalent latitude of New York City in the 2100s. | |
| * | Past Climate in 1609 | National Climatic Data Center 2010- 1981-2010 Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days | La Guardia Airport, New York City: urban area (1981-2010) | 275 | days | We assume the same number of heating days for this period as that of 1970-2010. |