Abstract
The depth-hoar region is one of the categories introduced by the author for the climatic division of the snow-covered areas in Japan based on the snow-cover character in mid-winter. In this study, to clarify the climatic implications of the definition of the depth-hoar region, we determined the number of winter seasons in which depth hoar developed to a significant level that was distinguishes the depth-hoar region from the others and that corresponds to a new definition, observation sites for the 30 years from 1971 to 2000, and were analyzed using the diagnostic formula introduced by Akitaya and Endo (1982). As a result, we could derive a new climatic condition that distinguishes the depth-hoar region from the others and that corresponds to a new definition, representing the frequency of “depth hoar developing significantly in the winter season” over the 30 years.
We also present a new digital cartographic map for climatic division that reflects the new definition for the depth-hoar region, using Mesh Climatic Data 2000, newly developed mesh climatic data published by Japan Meteorological Agency.
