Related papers/reports 
1905 - 1985 
Myers, R. L. (1986) Florida's freezes: an analog of short-duration nuclear winter events in 
the Tropics. Fla. Sci.. 49(2): 105-15. 
Recently developed scenarios of nuclear winter effects originating from a nuclear 
exchange in the north temperate zone point to localized periodic freezes reaching as far 
south as the Tropic of Capricorn. The effects of freezes on Florida's agriculture and 
natural ecosystems are assessed as analogs of what might occur at lower latitudes 
should freezing temperatures from a nuclear winter reach into the tropics. Vegetation 
damage, population fluctuations, restricted distributions, fishkills, and crop losses are 
recurrent features associated with freezes in Florida. However, Florida's freezes can 
only serve as a partial model because of bioclimatic dissimilarities between tropical 
regions and the Florida peninsula. Florida, itself, would suffer severe environmental 
consequences during a nuclear winter, yet certain features of it's environment may 
permit a relatively rapid recovery. Severe freezes occurred in 1905, 1906, 1909, 
1917, 1928, 1934, 1940, 1947, 1957-58, 1962, 1970, 1971, 1977, 1981, 1982, 
1983, and 1985. 
1913 - 1986 
Hanson, K., and G. A. Maul (1993) Analysis of temperature, precipitation, and sea-level 
variability with concentration on Key West, Florida, for evidence of trace-gas-induced 
climate change. Climatic Change in the Intra-Americas Sea . G. A. Maul (ed.). Edward 
Arnold, New York. 193-213. 
Meteorological and sea-level data for Key West, Florida, have been examined for 
evidence of changes during recent decades that may be attributed to increasing trace 
gases in the atmosphere. The 136-yr air-temperature record (1851 - 1986) gives the 
evidence that a slight warming has occurred, but there has been no appreciable change 
since 1950. However, there are questions of the reality of the warming because of the 
varied temperature-observing conditions over the period of record. The 101 -yr 
precipitation record (1886 - 1986) gives evidence that no significant change in 
precipitation has occurred during the period of record. In addition to Key West weather, 
sea-level records from all 62 stations on file with the Permanent Service for Mean Sea 
Level that cover the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and Bermuda have 
been examined for linear trends. Average (±1 standard deviation), sea-level rise is 0.4 
cm yr' 1 (± 0.6 cm yr' 1 ) for all stations (mean record length 20 yrs), and 0.3 cm yr" 1 
(± 0.4 cm yr' 1 ) for those stations with records of >10 yrs in length. A regional 
maximum of ^.+ 1.0 cm yr' 1 is centered in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, an area of 
subsidence. Regional minimums (~ -0.3 cm yr' 1 ) occur in the southwestern Gulf and in 
the Lesser Antilles, where there is diastrophism. Average sea-level rise at Key West, 
a site of tectonic stability, is 0.22 cm yr' 1 (± 0.01 cm yr' 1 ) for the period 1913 - 
1986. Key West sea level seems unrelated to local air temperature, barometric 
pressure, precipitation and records of coral growth, but is significantly lower than 
normal during the year preceding a strong El Nino - Southern Oscillation event, and 
higher than normal during the event itself. There is no evidence for accelerated sea- 
level rise at this site. 
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