Climate Change Chart of Kobe, Japan

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Averaged across calendar months, monthly mean temperature showed a difference of +1.12 °C compared with the earlier reference period; this is an unweighted mean of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a measure of daytime maximum temperatures. The largest monthly increase was in March, with a difference of +2.23 °C. This identifies the strongest increase among the monthly means, rather than describing every month.

Changes in rainfall

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily rainfall had a difference of +1.32 mm/day in the more recent period. This is an unweighted average of monthly mean daily amounts, not an annual total or a statement that rainfall increased in every month. The largest monthly increase occurred in August, where mean daily rainfall had a difference of +2.73 mm/day. These are daily amounts, not monthly rainfall totals.

Changes in sunshine duration

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily sunshine duration had a difference of -0.53 hours/day compared with the earlier reference period; this unweighted mean of monthly means does not imply the same change in every month. The largest monthly decrease was tied between January / April, each with a difference of -0.95 hours/day in mean daily sunshine duration.

Changes in snowfall

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily snowfall had a difference of -0.03 mm/day. This small mean difference describes the aggregate of monthly means and does not indicate that snowfall was absent or unchanged in every month. Monthly differences varied in direction: the largest increase was in January, at +0.33 mm/day, while the largest decrease was in February, at -0.35 mm/day. Both figures refer to mean daily snowfall, not monthly totals.