2004 Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 53-63
The characteristics of air temperature distribution in Kamogawa Okayama Prefecture, were estimated by means of a stepwise multiple regression analysis. A comparison was then made between the distribution of monthly air temperature based on maps with 50 m and 1 km mesh sizes. Our objective was to discuss suitable land use for agriculture based on the regional air temperature distribution. The regression analysis suggested that the distribution of maximum monthly air temperature is mainly determined by mean elevation in all seasons. However, the distribution of minimum monthly air temperature was primarily determined by mean elevation only during summer; at other times, other factors must be considered. It was also found that the minimum monthly air temperature is comparatively high in valleys having large rivers. The distribution of maximum monthly air temperature on the 50 m and 1 km meshes was similar in all seasons. Notably, the average difference between maximum monthly air temperatures on the 1 km mesh was over 1 ℃. The distribution of minimum monthly air temperature on the 50 m and 1 km meshes differed noticeably at higher elevations during seasons other than summer. The thermal belt did not appear in the 1 km mesh maps of minimum monthly air temperature at those times.
