Spatial distributions and interannual variations of snow cover over China in the last 40 years

By using the observational snow data of more than 700 weather stations,the interannual temporal and spatial characteristics of seasonal snow cover in China were analyzed.The results show that northern Xinjiang,northeastern China-Inner Mongolia,and the southwestern and southern portions of Tibetan Plateau are three regions in China with high seasonal snow cover and also an interannual anomaly of snow cover.According to the trend of both the snow depth and snow cover days,there are three changing patterns for the seasonal snow cover:The first type is that both snow depth and snow cover days simultaneously increase or decrease;this includes northern Xinjiang,middle and eastern Inner Mongolia,and so on.The second is that snow depth increases but snow cover days decrease;this type mainly locates in the eastern parts of the northeastern plain of China and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.The last type is that snow depth decreases but snow cover days increase at the same time such as that in middle parts of Tibetan Plateau.Snow cover in China appears to have been having a slow increasing trend during the last 40 years.On the decadal scale,snow depth and snow cover days slightly increased in the 1960s and then decreased in the 1970s;they again turn to increasing in the 1980s and persist into 1990s.     

Distribution of winter-spring snow over the Tibetan Plateau and its relationship with summer precipitation in Yangtze River

The distribution of winter-spring snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau(TP) and its relationship with summer precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River Valley(MLYRV) during 2003–2013 have been investigated with the moderate-resolution imaging spectrometer(MODIS) Terra data(MOD10A2) and precipitation observations. Results show that snow cover percentage(SCP) remains approximately 20% in winter and spring then tails off to below 5% with warmer temperature and snow melt in summer. The lower and highest percentages present a declining tendency while the middle SCP exhibits an opposite variation. The maximum value appears from the middle of October to March and the minimum emerges from July to August. The annual and winter-spring SCPs present a decreasing tendency. Snow cover is mainly situated in the periphery of the plateau and mountainous regions, and less snow in the interior of the plateau, basin and valley areas in view of snow cover frequency(SCF) over the TP. Whatever annual or winter-spring snow cover, they all have remarkable declining tendency during 2003–2013, and annual snow cover presents a decreasing trend in the interior of the TP and increasing trend in the periphery of the TP. The multi-year averaged eight-day SCP is negatively related to mean precipitation in the MLYRV. Spring SCP is negatively related to summer precipitation while winter SCP is positively related to summer precipitation in most parts of the MLYRV. Hence, the influence of winter snow cover on precipitation is much more significant than that in spring on the basis of correlation analysis. The oscillation of SCF from southeast to northwest over the TP corresponds well to the beginning, development and cessation of the rain belt in eastern China.     

中国近代北方极端干湿事件的演变规律

Using monthly precipitation and monthly mean temperature, a surface humid index was proposed. According to the index, the distributed characteristics of extreme dryness has been fully analyzed. The results indicated that there is an obvious increasing trend of extreme dryness in the central part of northern China and northeastern China in the last 10 years, which shows a high frequency period of extreme dryness; while a low frequency period in the regions during the last 100 years. Compared with variation trend of the temperature in these regions, the region of high frequent extreme dryness is consistent with the warming trend in the same region.     

中国东北耕地物候期对气候变化的响应(英文)

We investigated the responses of cropland phenophases to changes of agricultural thermal conditions in Northeast China using the SPOT-VGT Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ten-day-composed time-series data, observed crop phenophases and the climate data collected from 1990 to 2010. First, the phenological parameters, such as the dates of onset-of-growth, peak-of-growth and end-of-growth as well as the length of the growing season, were extracted from the smoothed NVDI time-series dataset and showed an obvious correlation with the observed crop phenophases, including the stages of seedling, heading, maturity and the length of the growth period. Secondly, the spatio-temporal trends of the major thermal conditions (the first date of ≥10℃, the first frost date, the length of the temperature-allowing growth period and the accumulated temperature (AT) of ≥10℃) in Northeast China were illustrated and analyzed over the past 20 years. Thirdly, we focused on the responses of cropland phenophases to the thermal conditions changes. The results showed that the onset-of-growth date had an obvious positive correlation with the first date of ≥10℃ (P < 0.01), especially in the northern part of the Songnen Plain, the eastern part of the Sanjiang Plain and the middle and eastern parts of Jilin Province. For the extracted length of growing season and the observed growth period, notable correlations were found in almost same regions (P < 0.05). However, there was no obvious correlation between the end-of-growth date and the first frost date in the study area. Opposite correlations were observed between the length of the growing season and the AT of ≥10℃. In the northern part of the Songnen Plain, the eastern part of the Sanjiang Plain and the middle part of Jilin and Liaoning Provinces, the positive correlation coefficients were higher than the critical value of 0.05, whereas the negative correlation coefficients reached a level of 0.55 (P < 0.05) in the middle and southern parts of Heilongjiang Province and some parts of the Sanjiang Plain. This finding indicated that the crop growth periods were shortened because of the elevated temperature; in contrast, the extended growth period usually meant a crop transformation from early- or middle-maturing varieties into middle or late ones.     

Spatio-temporal responses of cropland phenophases to climate change in Northeast China

We investigated the responses of cropland phenophases to changes of agricultural thermal conditions in Northeast China using the SPOT-VGT Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ten-day-composed time-series data, observed crop phenophases and the climate data collected from 1990 to 2010. First, the phenological parameters, such as the dates of onset-of-growth, peak-of-growth and end-of-growth as well as the length of the growing season, were extracted from the smoothed NVDI time-series dataset and showed an obvious correlation with the observed crop phenophases, including the stages of seedling, heading, maturity and the length of the growth period. Secondly, the spatio-temporal trends of the major thermal conditions (the first date of ≥10℃, the first frost date, the length of the temperature-allowing growth period and the accumulated temperature (AT) of ≥10℃) in Northeast China were illustrated and analyzed over the past 20 years. Thirdly, we focused on the responses of cropland phenophases to the thermal conditions changes. The results showed that the onset-of-growth date had an obvious positive correlation with the first date of ≥10℃ (P < 0.01), especially in the northern part of the Songnen Plain, the eastern part of the Sanjiang Plain and the middle and eastern parts of Jilin Province. For the extracted length of growing season and the observed growth period, notable correlations were found in almost same regions (P < 0.05). However, there was no obvious correlation between the end-of-growth date and the first frost date in the study area. Opposite correlations were observed between the length of the growing season and the AT of ≥10℃. In the northern part of the Songnen Plain, the eastern part of the Sanjiang Plain and the middle part of Jilin and Liaoning Provinces, the positive correlation coefficients were higher than the critical value of 0.05, whereas the negative correlation coefficients reached a level of 0.55 (P < 0.05) in the middle and southern parts of Heilongjiang Province and some parts of the Sanjiang Plain. This finding indicated that the crop growth periods were shortened because of the elevated temperature; in contrast, the extended growth period usually meant a crop transformation from early- or middle-maturing varieties into middle or late ones.     

2001-2010年中国地表比辐射率的时空变化(英文)

Land surface emissivity is one of the important parameters in temperature inversion from thermal infrared remote sensing. Using MOD11C3 of Terra-MODIS L3 level products, spatio-temporal data sets of land surface emissivity in China for 10 years from 2001 to 2010 are obtained. The results show that the land surface emissivity in the northwest desert region is the lowest in China, with little seasonal variations. In contrast, there are significant seasonal variations in land surface emissivity in northeast China and northern Xinjiang, the Qing-hai-Tibet Plateau, the Yangtze River Valley and the eastern and southern China. In winter, the land surface emissivity in the northeast China and northern Xinjiang is relatively high. The land surface emissivity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region is maintained at low value from November to March, while it becomes higher in other months. The land surface emissivity of the Yangtze River Valley, eastern and southern China, and Sichuan Basin varies from July to October, and peaks in August. Land surface emissivity values could be divided into five levels: low emissivity (0.6163-0.9638), moderate-low emissivity (0.9639-0.9709), moderate emis-sivity (0.9710-0.9724), moderate-high emissivity (0.9725-0.9738), and high emissivity (0.9739-0.9999). The percentages of areas with low emissivity, moderate-low emissivity and moderate emissivity are, respectively, about 20%, 10% and 20%. The moderate-high emis-sivity region makes up 40%-50% of China’s land surface area. The inter-annual variation of moderate-high emissivity region is also very clear, with two peaks (in spring and autumn) and two troughs (in summer and winter). The inter-annual variation of the high emissivity region is very significant, with a peak in winter (10%), while only 1% or 2% in other seasons. There is a clear association between the spatio-temporal distribution of China’s land surface emissivity and temperature: the higher the emissivity, the lower the temperature, and vice versa. Emis-sivity is an inherent property of any object, but the precise value of its emissivity depends very much on its surrounding environmental factors.     

中国干旱灾害评估与空间特征分析(英文)

Based on the monthly precipitation data for the period 1960-2008 from 616 rainfall stations and the phenology data of main grain crops,the spatial characteristics of drought hazard in China were investigated at a 10 km×10 km grid-cell scale using a GIS-based drought hazard assessment model,which was constructed by using 3-month Standard Pre-cipitation Index (SPI).Drought-prone areas and heavy drought centers were also identified in this study.The spatial distribution of drought hazard in China shows apparent east-west dif-ference,with the eastern part of China being far more hazardous than the western part.High hazard areas are common in the eastern and central parts of Inner Mongolian Plateau,the central part of Northeast China Plain,the northern part of Heilongjiang,the southeastern part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,the central and southern parts of Loess Plateau,the southern part of North China Plain,the northern and southern parts of Yangtze River Plain,and Yun-nan-Guizhou Plateau.Furthermore,obvious differences in drought hazard were found both within and between different agricultural zonings.     

东北地区城市可持续城市化潜力评估（英文）

Sustainable urbanization is not only an important research topic in the field of urbanization, but also the development direction of new-type urbanization. In this paper, we construct an index system to evaluate sustainable urbanization potential with the entropy method. Results show that potential values of sustainable urbanization in most cities are not high. Cities with higher sustainable urbanization potential values are mainly located in the central part of Northeast China. Environmental potential of sustainable urbanization is the main contributor to sustainable urbanization potential in Northeast China. There is no absolute relationship between city size and potential value, large city does not always mean greater potential. Correlation analysis shows that urbanization rate cannot reflect the sustainable urbanization potential of a region. Population urbanization is not the ultimate goal of sustainable urbanization. Unilateral pursue urbanization rate cannot improve the potential of sustainable urbanization. Towards sustainable urbanization, governments in Northeast China should revitalize local economy, pay more attention to the rural areas and develop low-carbon economy or ecological economy. Finally, this paper highlights the importance of choosing more integrated methodology or new models for measuring sustainable urbanization potential in view of the shortcomings of one method.     

东北地区未来气候变化对农业气候资源的影响（英文）

In this study, the spatial distribution and changing trends of agricultural heat and precipitation resources in Northeast China were analyzed to explore the impacts of future climate changes on agroclimatic resources in the region. This research is based on the output meteorological data from the regional climate model system for Northeast China from 2005 to 2099, under low and high radiative forcing scenarios RCP4.5(low emission scenario) and RCP8.5(high emission scenario) as proposed in IPCC AR5. Model outputs under the baseline scenario, and RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios were assimilated with observed data from 91 meteorological stations in Northeast China from 1961 to 2010 to perform the analyses. The results indicate that:(1) The spatial distribution of temperature decreases from south to north, and the temperature is projected to increase in all regions, especially under a high emission scenario. The average annual temperature under the baseline scenario is 7.70°C, and the average annual temperatures under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 are 9.67°C and 10.66°C, respectively. Other agricultural heat resources change in accordance with temperature changes. Specifically, the first day with temperatures ≥10°C arrives 3 to 4 d earlier, the first frost date is delayed by 2 to 6 d, and the duration of the growing season is lengthened by 4 to 10 d, and the accumulated temperature increases by 400 to 700°C·d. Water resources exhibit slight but not significant increases.(2) While the historical temperature increase rate is 0.35°C/10 a, the rate of future temperature increase is the highest under the RCP8.5 scenario at 0.48°C/10 a, compared to 0.19°C/10 a under the RCP4.5 scenario. In the later part of this century, the trend of temperature increase is significantly faster under the RCP8.5 scenario than under the RCP4.5 scenario, with faster increases in the northern region. Other agricultural heat resources exhibit similar trends as temperature, but with different specific spatial distributions. Precipitation in the growing season generally shows an increasing but insignificant trend in the future, with relatively large yearly fluctuations. Precipitation in the eastern region is projected to increase, while a decrease is expected in the western region. The future climate in Northeast China will change towards higher temperature and humidity. The heat resource will increase globally, however its disparity with the change in precipitation may negatively affect agricultural activities.     

Spatial quality： analysis of China＇s eco-environmental 1990-2010

Over the past two decades in China, stress on the environment has increased continuously. This paper will assess the change in environmental quality over time, and its spatial variation using data from the statistical yearbooks of 31 provincial administrative regions in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. These books provide a general assessment of the environment at the provincial level, and the three major economic regions from western to eastern China. By using the geographic information system （GIS） and SPSS, we analyzed the changing trend of China＇s eco-environment and calculated the changing trajectory in the gravity center of the eco-environmental quality. We conclude the following. （1） From 1990 to 2010, the rate of deterioration of the environment went down. We argue that the cause of this trend was neither the result as ＂the deterioration trend was under control＂ noticed by the government departments concerned, nor ＂the deterioration rate of the environment was increasingly intensified＂ suggested by many researchers. （2） Since 1990, the general environment has been worsening in China, but it was improved in some regions; however, the ecological deficit is still expanding and will last for a long time. （3） From western to eastern China, the deterioration rate of environmental quality was slowed down. The reasons include a good natural environment, a developed regional economy, and technology and finance in eastern China. （4） After extensive economic development in China, there are imbalances of population, economy, society, and the environment in the 31 provincial regions. The governments at all levels should play an important role in research and protecting the environment. In addition, it is imperative to implement positive measures such as controlling population, improving the environment, and promoting smart development to balance the socio-ecological system.     

2002—2018年叶尔羌河流域积雪时空变化研究

积雪是冰冻圈中较为活跃的因子,对气候环境变化敏感,其变化影响着全球气候和水文的变化。积雪覆盖日数(SCD)、降雪开始时间(SCOD)和融雪开始时间(SCMD)是影响地表物质和能量平衡的主要因素。使用MODIS无云积雪产品提取了叶尔羌河流域2002年7月-2018年6月逐日积雪覆盖率(SCP),基于像元计算了SCD、SCOD和SCMD,系统地分析了其空间分布与变化特征,并探讨了其变化的原因及积雪面积的异常变化与ENSO的联系。结果表明:(1)研究时段内,流域的积雪覆盖面积呈微弱减少趋势,与气温呈显著负相关,与降水呈显著正相关;2002-2018年,SCP随海拔的升高呈明显的线性增加趋势(R2=0.92、P<0.01));各海拔高度带最大SCP出现的月份大致随海拔的上升往后推迟,最小SCP出现月份无显著变化(集中在8月),海拔4000 m以下,春季的SCP小于冬季,海拔4000 m以上,春季的SCP大于冬季。(2)SCD、SCOD和SCMD有明显的海拔梯度,在流域内,从东北至西南,呈现出SCD增加,SCOD提前,SCMD推迟的特征;变化趋势上,流域91.9%的区域SCD表现为减少,65.6%的区域SCOD有往后推迟的趋势,77.4%的区域SCMD表现出提前的趋势。(3)2006、2008年和2017年积雪覆盖面积异常偏大,而在2010年则异常偏小,其原因可能是ENSO影响了积雪的变化。(4)以喀喇昆仑为主的高海拔地区,包括帕米尔高原东部的部分地区,其SCD、SCOD和SCMD分别表现出增加、提前和推迟的趋势,这种变化与其春秋温度的持续走低以及降水量的增加有关。     

东北地区冬季降雪的集中度和集中期变化特征

应用1961-2005 年东北地区冬季的台站降水资料,计算并分析了东北地区降雪集中度和集中期的时空变化特征和集中度偏高时的环流特征.结果表明,东北地区降雪集中度呈逐年上升趋势,集中期呈明显下降趋势。从年代际变化上来看,集中期存在着12 年的长周期,在1970 年代中期之后存在8 年左右的短周期。从空间变化的情况来看,东北地区冬季降雪集中度由东向西依次增加,吉林的东部地区出现集中度最低值,辽宁中部、吉林中部存在着集中期的高值中心。对于东北不同区域,东北东部和中部变化趋势一致,集中度呈上升趋势,集中期呈下降趋势。东北西南部和东北北部降水集中度均呈微弱的上升趋势,其中东北西南部地区降雪的集中度上升趋势最弱。东北北部降水集中期的下降趋势最弱。在影响东北降雪集中度偏高时,在高空500 hPa 东北地区均处于东亚大槽控制,东亚大槽在东北西部加深,而在东北东部有高压易于形成并加强,导致东亚大槽东移缓慢。高、低空急流均明显存在,与低空急流相比,高空急流更强,位置偏西南。在太平洋上水汽输送的高值区明显增强,范围也增大,东北地区受沿高值中心北侧向西北向输送的水汽影响。     

Spatiotemporal distributions and influences on snow density in China from 1999 to 2008

Ground snow observation data from 1999 to 2008 were used to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of snow density in China. The monthly maximum density shifted from north to south during the period from October to the following January, and then moved back from south to north during the period from January to April. The maximum snow density occurred at the border between Hunan and Jiangxi provinces in January, where snow cover duration was short and varied remarkably. Snow density in Northeast China and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were also high and showed less variation when the snow cover duration was long. Ground observation data from nine weather stations were selected to study changes of snow density in Northeast and Northwest China. A phase of stable snow density occurred from the middle ten days of November to the following February; non-stationary density phases were observed from October to the first ten days of November and from March to April. To further investigate the effects of climatic factors on snow density, correlations between snow density and precipitation, air temperature, snow depth and wind velocity for Northeast and Northwest China were analyzed. Correlation analysis showed that snow depth was the primary influence on snow density.     

中国降雪气候学特征

利用逐日地面降雪观测资料,分析中国25oN以北范围内降雪量、降雪日数、雪带分布和各强度降雪的气候学特征,得到以下结论:①雪季长度与年降雪日数在东部呈纬向分布,大兴安岭北部最长(>210 d),长江以南最短(常年无雪或偶尔降雪);在西部青海省南部和西藏自治区北部最长(>300 d),滇、川、藏交界处及新疆自治区北部较长,南疆较短(<60 d)。年降雪量东南部最少,东北和西北北部较多(>30 mm),青海和西藏降雪量最多(>60 mm)。平均降雪强度江淮一带最大。②根据雪季降雪频次划分中国的雪带,东北大部、内蒙自治区东部、新疆北部、青藏高原大部、秦岭等地区为常年多雪带;长江以南的滇南、四川盆地、江浙沿海等地区为永久无雪带;其余地区为常年降雪带和偶尔降雪带。③不同区域各级降雪日数占总降雪日数的比例都是暴雪日数最少,大雪日数其次,小雪日数最多;但中雪降雪量占总降雪量的比例在东北北部、华北、西北、新疆、东南、青藏高原东部等区域仅高于小雪降雪量,而在黄-淮地区仅次于暴雪降雪量。④降雪年内分配在东北北部、西北、新疆、青藏高原东部等地区都呈双峰型,最多雪时节在早冬和晚冬、早春,隆冬时节并不是降雪最多时间,黄-淮和东南地区呈单峰型,东南地区峰值更陡。⑤总降雪日数和除暴雪外的各等级降雪日数与地理位置关系较明显,在中国东部主要随着纬度升高增加,在中国西部随海拔高度增加而增加;随着纬度升高,东部和西部的总降雪强度都减小,西部的小雪强度也减小。     

中国天山积雪垂直分布异质性研究

基于2001—2018年MOD10A2积雪产品和MOD11A2陆地表面温度数据,采用精细分区统计和相关性分析方法,研究了中国天山不同海拔高度上积雪垂直分布特征及其与地表温度（Land surface temperature,LST）的响应关系。结果表明：中国天山积雪覆盖率（Snow cover percentage,SCP）随海拔的变化呈现春、夏、秋、冬4种不同的季节变化模式。SCP在海拔4200 m以下呈秋冬季增加、春夏季减少态势,在海拔4200 m以上呈秋冬季减少、春夏季增加态势。除冬季外,春、夏、秋3个季节的SCP与LST均具有显著强负相关性。     

中国冰雪旅游研究：内涵辨析、脉络梳理与体系构建

推动冰雪旅游高质量发展践行了“冰天雪地也是金山银山”发展理念,助推着体育强国、健康中国建设,满足了人民日益增长的美好生活需要。中国冰雪旅游历经三十多年的发展,已形成规模化、整体化发展格局;北京冬奥会的筹办更是给冰雪旅游带来重大发展契机,利好政策陆续出台,消费热情不断高涨。与此同时,冰雪旅游相关研究也持续涌现,取得了丰厚研究成果。文章以“内涵辨析-脉络梳理-体系构建”为逻辑主线,从冰雪旅游基础概念、发展脉络演进、研究内容、研究方法及区域等方面对中国冰雪旅游展开分析和评述。研究表明：冰雪旅游内涵丰富,学者们从资源、动机以及季候等视角展开了概念界定;冰雪旅游研究历经4个阶段,研究与实践联系日益紧密,产业发展受资源、政策、市场等因素驱动;研究内容已形成一定体系,与国家、产业发展战略的结合有待加强;以定性研究为主,缺乏定量、纵深研究;研究区域高度集中在东北、华北地区,且视角较为宏观。最后提出从理论构建及研究视角、研究内容、研究方法、区域等方面进行未来研究的创新。以期推动中国冰雪旅游研究的理论化和体系构建,引领和指导未来冰雪旅游领域研究,推进中国后冬奥时代冰雪旅游高质量发展。     

基于MODIS数据的蒙古高原积雪时空变化研究

利用Terra卫星和Aqua卫星提供的2002年9月1日~2017年5月31日每日积雪覆盖产品MOD10C1和MYD10C1，提取蒙古高原积雪日数、积雪面积、积雪初日及积雪终日信息，得到蒙古高原积雪特征分布和变化趋势，同时，结合蒙古高原108个地面气象观测站的气温资料，分析研究区积雪变化特征和气温的关系。结果表明：（1）蒙古高原平均积雪日数在60～90 d之间，积雪初日主要分布在315～335 d之间，积雪终日大多集中在31～61 d之间，蒙古高原东部地区积雪初日有明显的提前趋势，西南地区积雪终日有明显的提前趋势。（2）积雪面积在积雪季内呈 “单峰型”，1月份为积雪面积最大月，年均积雪面积呈微弱的下降趋势。（3）最大积雪覆盖面积与温度具有明显的相关性，稳定积雪覆盖区的临界温度大概介于-11~-8 ℃之间。（4）温度是影响积雪特征变化的重要因素。     

Impacts of snow cover and frozen soil in the Tibetan Plateau on summer precipitation in China

This paper presents an analysis of the mechanisms and impacts of snow cover and frozen soil in the Tibetan Plateau on the summer precipitation in China, using RegCM3 version 3.1 model simulations. Comparisons of simulations vs. observations show that RegCM3 well captures these impacts. Results indicate that in a more-snow year with deep frozen soil there will be more precipitation in the Yangtze River Basin and central Northwest China, western Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang, but less precipitation in Northeast China, North China, South China, and most of Southwest China. In a less-snow year with deep frozen soil, however, there will be more precipitation in Northeast China, North China, and southern South China, but less precipitation in the Yangtze River Basin and in northern South China. Such differences may be attributed to different combination patterns of melting snow and thawing frozen soil on the Plateau, which may change soil moisture as well as cause differences in energy absorption in the phase change processes of snow cover and frozen soil. These factors may produce more surface sensible heat in more-snow years when the frozen soil is deep than when the frozen soil is shallow. The higher surface sensible heat may lead to a stronger updraft over the Plateau, eventually contributing to a stronger South Asia High and West Pacific Subtropical High. Due to different values of the wind fields at 850 hPa, a convergence zone will form over the Yangtze River Basin, which may produce more summer precipitation in the basin area but less precipitation in North China and South China. However, because soil moisture depends on ice content, in less-snow years with deep frozen soil, the soil moisture will be higher. The combination of higher frozen soil moisture with latent heat absorption in the phase change process may generate less surface sensible heat and consequently a weaker updraft motion over the Plateau. As a result, both the South Asia High and the West Pacific Subtropical High will be weaker, hence causing more summer precipitation in northern China but less in southern China.     

Comparison and analysis of snow cover data based on different definitions of snow cover days

In order to analyze the differences between the two snow cover data, the snow cover data of 884 meteorological stations in China from 1951 to 2005 are counted. The data include days of visual snow observation, snow depth, and snow cover durations, which vary according to different definitions of snow cover days. Two series of data, as defined by "snow depth" and by "weather observation," are investigated here. Our results show that there is no apparent difference between them in east China and the Xinjiang region, but in northeast China and the Tibetan Plateau the "weather observation" data vary by more than 10 days and the "snow depth" data vary by 0.4 cm. Especially in the Tibetan Plateau, there are at least 15 more days of "weather observation" snow in most areas (sometimes more than 30 days). There is an obvious difference in the snow cover data due to bimodal snowfall data in the Tibetan Plateau, which has peak snowfalls from September to October and from April to May. At those times the temperature is too high for snow cover formation and only a few days have trace snow cover. Also, the characteristics and changing trends of snow cover are analyzed here based on the snow cover data of nine weather stations in the northeast region of the Tibetan Plateau, by the Mann-Kendall test. The results show significantly fewer days of snow cover and shorter snow durations as defined by "snow depth" compared to that as defined by "weather observation." Mann-Kendall tests of both series of snow cover durations show an abrupt change in 1987.