The Climate of Urban Areas in the United States and Their Rates of Personal Violence (Suicide and Homicide)

The climatic variables of 27 urban areas in the US formed 3 clusters measuring coldness, elevation & precipitation. These variables were also associated with the longitude & latitude of the cities. Controlling for latitude & longitude reduced the strength of the association between weather variables & the areas’ rates of homicide & suicide, but controlling for the weather variables reduced the strength of the association between latitude & longitude & personal violence. (15 refs.)