Although a report made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests higher precipitation than average in these late fall months, Binghamton’s National Weather Service’s equipment readings suggest that it is too early to make that assertion.

“Looking at the weather forecast for this area it is hard to [determine a trend] based on the last couple of months,” said Theodore Champney, a meteorologist at Binghamton’s National Weather Service station. “[The weather] is not showing any trends, [it has been] below normal to near normal.”

NOAA reported that the U.S. had the third-coolest October on record at an average of 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit, four degrees below the 20th century average. It also recorded a precipitation of 4.15 inches, 2.04 inches above average for the century.

NOAA’s findings came after a report last January from Environment America, an environmental advocacy organization, on a change in rain patterns in the Binghamton area, linking the high amounts of precipitation and severe storms to global warming.

“In the upcoming century we can anticipate seeing heavier tropical storms, but weather is not something that we can easily predict,” said Peter Knuepfer, director of environmental studies and an associate professor of global studies at Binghamton University. “Weather varies all the time. In order to understand weather you have to look at it over a period’s time, rather than a year’s time.”

There is an increase in concern over how global warming affects the weather, as a result of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast of Mexico and tropical storms in the South and Western regions of the United States.

“When you get El Ni√É.√±o you get definite temperature trends in the South and West rather than the Northeast,” Champney said.

Seasonal patterns such as El Ni√É.√±o, a warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean during the United States’ winter months, help meteorologists predict weather trends that would be similar to the effect of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.

“… Sea levels rise, water gets warmer, sea levels expand,” Knuepfer said. He also said that based on his personal observation, “fall comes a little later than it used to, that’s an example of global change.”

Changes are still being made in the area to decrease possible effects of global warming. In addition to lowering emissions of greenhouse gases, students can also get involved in the Campus Climate Challenge organization.

“Most of what CCC does is aimed at helping individuals reduce their waste,” said Emily Greene, a junior biochemistry major and president of the organization. “Recycling is great, but it is even better to not use unnecessary things. … We are beginning to try to work with the administration to focus on larger things at BU. We have this reputation that we are a ‘green’ school — we need to start living up to it.”

The organization also helps out with Earth Fest, a local celebration of Earth Day, and works with high schools in a program called “Gear up” to teach students about their own carbon footprint.

“If we don’t make changes at this point then we won’t we able to make changes in time,” Knuepfer said.