Abstract
To clarify the distribution of natural cold energy such as the resources of snow, ice, and frozen soil, we analyzed the meteorological data, and made regional classifications in Hokkaido. From the results, we considered each region’s potential for effective use of cold energy resources. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed using the parameters of the meteorological resources related to cold energy, and Cluster Analysis (CA) was performed using the principal score (PS) to define regional classification. Consequently, the first principal component (PC1) which showed cold and continuous-snow-cover duration, and the second principal component (PC2) which showed snowfall and sunshine duration were obtained. From the results of CA, we could classify Hokkaido into 16 regions. In general, the cold resources such as snow and ice are kept in storages until early summer and used as cold energy in summer. Therefore high summer temperatures negatively affect cold energy utilization. So we executed the PCA and CA using the parameters of the meteorological resources in summer. As a result, PC1, PC2, and PC3 showed the information of temperature, wind speed and temperature rise in the daytime, and precipitation, respectively. From results of CA, we could classify Hokkaido into 19 regions. From these results, it was considered that the utilization of snow, ice, and frozen soil was advantageous in the Japan Sea side region, inland area, and eastern Pacific Ocean side region, respectively.
