Long-term changes in annual rainfall patterns in southern Israel

Summary Within the study region in southern Israel, the annual average rainfall during the period 1961–1990 increased by up to ~ 30%, with only minor changes in the control stations representing the central and northern parts of the country. The retreat of aridity is made even more pronounced by an appreciable decrease in the coefficient of variation (CV) in nearly all of the 30 rain stations within the study region. The geographical area where maximum CV reductions were found correlates well with the area where intensive land-use variations took place with the initial operation of the National Water Carrier in 1964. A global climate change in the sea surface temperatures starting in the early 1960's may have had an effect to increase seasonal rainfall. Current research is aimed at resolving this issue.With 6 Figures     

Spatial and Temporal Changes in Rainfall Frequency Distribution Patterns in Israel

Summary Annual and monthly rainfall totals in Israel were analyzed to reveal any long term changes in their temporal and spatial distribution patterns, since the 1930s. The data consists of 60 rainfall stations, spread all over Israel from the far North to the Negev desert in the South, with long-term records of rainfall covering two normal periods. A gamma distribution function was fitted to the annual rainfall at each station for the two normal periods, and the shape and scale parameters of the distribution, as well as their percentage changes during the last normal period with respect to the first one, were analyzed. The analysis of the annual distribution function parameters reveals some appreciable changes, that are statistically significant, in the spatial rainfall distribution patterns in the southern, northern and central parts of the country. The most striking feature is revealed in the South, where a more than 60 percent increase in the shape parameter occurs, and a similar rate of re-scaling, i.e. a decrease of about 40 percent in the scale parameter. Analysis of the monthly distributions revealed considerable changes in October and November, at the beginning of the rainfall season, and an appreciable change in March, at the end of the rainfall season. Received December 10, 1997 Revised June 24, 1998     

长江流域近40年强降水的变化趋势

利用长江流域109个气象站1960-2001年的逐日降水资料，采用泰森多边形方法计算整个长江流域的面雨量，研究了长江流域面雨量的变化趋势。结果表明：长江流域年面雨量呈增加趋势，但不显著。从长江流域各站暴雨日数和暴雨量趋势变化的空间分布来看，长江流域年、夏季6～8月的暴雨日数和暴雨量表现为较大范围的增加趋势，但通过显著性检验的站并不多，显著增加的中心在江西省。     

棉花吐絮收获期连阴雨灾害风险区划

为了进一步提高棉花生产中吐絮收获期连阴雨灾害的应对处置能力和水平,采用陕西关中棉区42个气象站1970—2010年的8月下旬至10月中旬逐日降水资料,同期的棉花灾情资料,经济资料和地理信息资料,基于GIS技术,针对影响陕西棉花吐絮成熟收获期的主要灾害——连阴雨进行风险区划研究,以期充分利用气候资源,避开不利气候条件,提高应对连阴雨灾害能力。结果表明:陕西关中棉花吐絮成熟收获期连阴雨灾害的高风险区和中等风险区在宝鸡市和西安南部沿秦岭北麓的周至、户县、长安和蓝田,不利于大面积种植棉花。关中东部渭南市、咸阳大部分区县,西安的临潼、阎良、高陵县,处于棉花种植的低风险区,能够保证棉花正常吐絮成熟收获。     

Analysis of Spatial Autocorrelation Patterns of Heavy and Super-Heavy Rainfall in Iran

Rainfall is a highly variable climatic element, and rainfall-related changes occur in spatial and temporal dimensions within a regional climate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the spatial autocorrelation changes of Iran's heavy and super-heavy rainfall over the past 40 years. For this purpose, the daily rainfall data of 664 meteorological stations between 1971 and 2011 are used. To analyze the changes in rainfall within a decade, geostatistical techniques like spatial autocorrelation analysis of hot spots, based on the Getis-Ord Gistatistic, are employed. Furthermore, programming features in MATLAB, Surfer, and GIS are used. The results indicate that the Caspian coast, the northwest and west of the western foothills of the Zagros Mountains of Iran, the inner regions of Iran, and southern parts of Southeast and Northeast Iran,have the highest likelihood of heavy and super-heavy rainfall. The spatial pattern of heavy rainfall shows that, despite its oscillation in different periods, the maximum positive spatial autocorrelation pattern of heavy rainfall includes areas of the west, northwest and west coast of the Caspian Sea. On the other hand, a negative spatial autocorrelation pattern of heavy rainfall is observed in central Iran and parts of the east, particularly in Zabul. Finally, it is found that patterns of super-heavy rainfall are similar to those of heavy rainfall.     

Temporal and spatial patterns of modern climatic warming: case study of Northern Eurasia

Century-scale near-surface air temperature data from 744 weather stations in Russia and neighboring countries indicate that the temperature variations have distinct temporal patterns. Two periods, near the beginning and at the end of the 20th century, experienced the largest warming rates. Temperature changes in both periods were not uniform in time or space. We used statistical criteria and applied them to data at the weather stations to define a “tipping point” corresponding to the beginning of the modern climatic period. Results indicate that the position of this point depends on location, and in most cases falls into the interval from the early 1970s through the late 1980s. By means of spatial correlation analysis we delineated regions with coherent air temperature changes and calculated the region-specific rates and magnitudes of changes. We compared the distribution of regional tipping points in time and over space with large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns over northern Eurasia. We analyzed the 20th—early 21st century changes in the relative frequencies of the three circulation forms defined by Vangengheim-Girs classification, and found their qualitative correspondence with the spatial temperature patterns and spread of the tipping points in time. These results improve our knowledge about the regional structure and drivers of modern climate change in northern Eurasia, which is likely to hold the fingerprint of the anthropogenic signal. Findings of this study can be used to obtain insight into regional climatic changes in northern Eurasia over the next few decades.     

长江三角洲地区区域气候模式的发展和检验

利用区域气候模式对大尺度天气过程进行模拟, 分析了模式对多种降水过程模拟能力的差别, 对模式中的物理过程、积分步长对模拟结果的影响进行了简单的分析; 并利用模式模拟了长江三角洲地区地面特征改变对气候的影响。模拟结果显示, 长江三角洲地区植被退化、城市化面积扩大等因素会引起比较显著的局地气候变化。     

1961—2015年中国暴雨变化诊断及其与多种气候因子的关联性研究

气候变化背景下,频发的暴雨事件造成城市内涝、人员伤亡和财产损失,已经成为全社会广泛关注的焦点问题之一。为了诊断中国暴雨的时空变化及其与不同自然因子的关联性,采用1961—2015年中国659个降水站点数据,采用线性趋势、EOF分析等多种统计方法诊断了中国暴雨时空变化特征,结果表明,中国暴雨雨量、雨日和雨强在1961—2015年以胡焕庸线为界呈现出东南高-西北低的气候态空间分布格局;线性趋势分析表明1961—2015年中国暴雨雨量和雨日从东南沿海向西北内陆呈明显“增-减-增”的空间分布格局,且呈增长趋势的站点占主导,分别高达80.88%和79.81%;从西北内陆到东南沿海的年代剖面分析表明中国暴雨雨量和雨日随着年代推移在迅速增长;对低通滤波后的中国暴雨进行EOF分析表明中国暴雨雨量和雨日的增长东南沿海快,内陆地区慢。根据IPCC等已有研究中筛选出对中国地区有影响的28个气候因子,并将其与659个站点的暴雨进行相关分析,结果表明不同气候因子与不同区域暴雨呈现出错综复杂的相关性特征,其中与暴雨雨量呈现以正相关和负相关为主的气候因子分别为15和13个,全局相关因子包含AAO(Antarctic Oscillation)、Pacific Warmpool,而其它气候因子在七大分区中与暴雨的关联性各有突出,表现出明显的空间异质性。      

Oceanic influence on the sub-seasonal to interannual timing and frequency of extreme dry spells over the West African Sahel

Intra-seasonal drought episodes (extreme dry spells) are strongly linked to crop yield loss in the West African Sahel, especially when they occur at crop critical stages such as juvenile or flowering stage. This paper seeks to expose potentially predictable features in the sub-seasonal to inter-annual occurrence of “extreme dry spells” (extDS) through their links to sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs). We consider two kinds of extreme dry spells: more than 2 weeks of consecutive dry days following a rain event (often found at the beginning of the rainy season, after the first rain events) and more than a week (observed towards the end of the rainy season, before the last rain events). We extract dry spells from daily rainfall data at 43 stations (31 stations in Senegal over 1950–2010 and 12 stations in Niger over 1960–2000) to identify the intra-seasonal distribution of extDS and their significant correlation with local rainfall deficits. Seasonality of distribution and high spatial coherence are found in the timing and the frequency of occurrence of extDS in different rainfall regions over Niger and Senegal. The correlation between the regional occurrence index (ROI), necessary to capture the spatial extent of extDS, and observed global sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) sheds light on the influence of the external factors on the decadal, interannual and sub-seasonal variability of extDS over the West African Sahel. When the global tropics and the Atlantic are warmer than normal, more coherent and delayed June–July extDS are observed after onset of rainy season, as well as early cessation type in August–September. When the Indo-Pacific is cooler and the equatorial south Atlantic is warmer than normal little to no extDS are found in the onset sub-period of the monsoon season. Mostly late types of extDS occur in October as a result of late cessation. These results show potential predictability of extreme dry spells after onset and before cessation of monsoonal rain based on global patterns of sea surface temperature anomalies.     

Iranian rainfall series analysis by means of nonparametric tests

The study of the trends and fluctuations in rainfall has received a great deal of attention, since changes in rainfall patterns may lead to floods or droughts. The objective of this study was to analyze the annual, seasonal, and monthly rainfall time series at seven rain gauge stations in the west of Iran for a 40-year period (from October 1969 to September 2009). The homogeneity of the rainfall data sets at the rain gauge stations was checked by using the cumulative deviations test. Three nonparametric tests, namely Kendall, Spearman, and Mann–Kendall, at the 95 % confidence level were used for the trend analysis and the Theil–Sen estimator was applied for determining the magnitudes of the trends. According to the homogeneity analysis, all of the rainfall series except the September series at Vasaj station were found to be homogeneous. The obtained results showed an insignificant trend in the annual and seasonal rainfall series at the majority of the considered stations. Moreover, only three significant trends were observed at the February rainfall of Aghajanbolaghi station, the November series of Vasaj station, and the March rainfall series of Khomigan station. The findings of this study on the temporal trends of rainfall can be implemented to improve the water resources strategies in the study region.     

吉林省单站暴雨特征分析及评估方法

利用吉林省50站1951-2007年逐日降水资料,对暴雨的时空分布规律和气候变化特征进行了分析,对单站暴雨采用等级、序位、异常气候重现期等方法进行了评估.结果表明:吉林省暴雨一般集中出现在7月上旬到8月下旬,且有一半以上的县市暴雨的气候倾向率呈上升的趋势,1980s中期以来,吉林省中东部地区暴雨出现次数处于偏多阶段.对吉林省单站暴雨采用等级、序位、异常气候重现期等方法进行了评估,对2005-2007年吉林省出现的大暴雨进行了试评估.     

西北地区近40年年降水异常的时空特征分析

利用西北五省(区)137个测站1961—2000年历年月降水量资料,采用EOF、REOF、小波分析对西北地区年降水量的时空分布、演变规律及各异常区的周期特征进行了诊断分析。结果表明：(1)西北区降水受大尺度天气系统影响,第一持征向量反映了全区一致的多雨或少雨,但也存在东西和南北的差异。(2)西北区年降水空问异常可分为6个气候区(异常型),即高原东北区、北疆区、青海东部区、西北东部区、南疆区、河西走廊区。(3)近40年中除高原东北区及西北东部区降水呈下降趋势外,其余各区呈上升趋势。(4)各异常区降水存在l0年以上较长周期和3～4年短周期振荡,但其显著周期及其年代变化差异较大。     

年径流总量控制率优化研究

年径流总量控制率是海绵城市建设中的重要指标,在实际应用中受到业界高度关注。为了提高年径流总量控制率指标的针对性与规范性,有必要根据城市降水气候特征,并结合地形条件对该指标进行优化。为此,利用重庆市主城区4个国家气象站(北碚、渝北、巴南和沙坪坝站)1981-2018年日降水数据和225个区域自动气象站2013-2018年日降水资料,采用《海绵城市建设技术指南(试行)》(下称《指南》)推荐方法,分别计算4个国家气象站的年径流总量控制率及其对应的设计降雨量;根据主城区降水空间分布和各月变化特征,优化年径流总量控制率指标。结果表明:沙坪坝、北碚、渝北站采用19812018年资料计算的60%-85%年径流总量控制率对应的设计降雨量较《指南》中的偏大,而巴南站的则相反。重庆市主城区年降水量主要集中在4-10月,占全年总量的85.5%,采用每年410月日降水资料对年径流总量控制率对应的设计降雨量推算优化,推算结果较优化前的偏大,如在85%的年径流总量控制率条件,北碚、渝北、巴南、沙坪坝站优化后设计降雨量分别偏大3.2、3.2、2.9和2.8 mm。根据主城区降水空间分布特征,划定了年径流总量控制率指标在重庆主城区的适用范围。     

1958-2012年来河北汛期暴雨气候变化特征分析

应用1958-2012年河北21个基准站和基本站逐日降水观测资料,分析了河北汛期暴雨的气候分布特征、年际、年代际变化以及趋势变化特征。结果表明,汛期暴雨分布呈现东部、南部多,向西北部递减的特征。最大暴雨量中心在河北东部、燕山南麓的唐山、秦皇岛地区。从年际和年代际尺度分析,暴雨量、频次、强度都存在2-3 a的年际变化周期信号,暴雨量和频次在20世纪80年代以后存在15-20 a的年代际周期信号。汛期暴雨量、暴雨频次时间序列整体呈现下降趋势,特别是21世纪以来,河北暴雨量和暴雨频次下降趋势更为明显,暴雨强度在近50 a变化幅度不大。在空间分布上,暴雨量、暴雨频次和暴雨强度三个特征量在年代际变化中整体都呈现东退南缩的特征。从趋势分析看来,大部分站点汛期暴雨量、频次、强度都呈现下降趋势。     

湖南极端干旱气候时段人影作业潜力分析

利用湖南97个气象观测站逐日综合气象干旱指数、逐日降水量和湖南天气气候分区,研究湖南极端干旱特征和极端干旱时段内人工影响天气增雨潜力,结果表明:①湖南极端干旱期有相当的增雨潜力,各个分区的极端干旱频次和大气可降水量年代际变化除70年代外均呈现为北少南多的特点。②极端干旱时段内各分区年均可增雨日数主要表现为月际差异,可增雨日数主要集中在8—10月,各分区区域差异较小,各分区在伏旱期的可增雨日数大约占伏旱期的16%～20%。③湖南极端干旱按照出现的季节分类有11种,频次最高的是夏秋连旱,同时夏秋连旱的可增雨日数最多。     

华南前汛期暴雨气候特征的研究

利用华南地区26站1958-2000年逐日降水资料，对华南前汛期暴雨降水的气候特征进行了统计研究。结果表明，华南前汛期暴雨降水量和频次的变化趋势都呈略减少的特征，都有明显的年际、年代际变化的长期演变特征；华南的暴雨近50％集中发生在前汛期，其中又以福建与广东的西北部为甚，华南的西南部较小；华南前汛期的降水有近40％为暴雨，多年平均暴雨百分率的大值中心在广东沿海地区，最大可达44％，有两个小值中心，它们分别位于广西广东西部和福建，最小只有26％。     

Identification of historic shifts in daily rainfall regime,Wenchi, Ghana

The characteristics of rainfall regime and its variability in the sub-humid region of mid-Ghana is analyzed using daily rainfall data from the Wenchi, 1950–2000. Prior research in the area, suggests that climatic variability occurs at lower frequencies than the typical ENSO signal and may be more closely related to noted shifts in global climatic patterns. Fifty-six possible starting dates encompassing the traditional growing season, extending from late January to early November, at 5 day increments, are used to define temporal units of varying lengths, variable temporal units (VTUs). Rainfall characteristics in each unit are described by two variables: total rainfall and number of rainy days. Given the widely noted global climatic shift in the 1970s and the results of regional analyses, the 50 year record is sub-divided into two 20 year periods, 1950–1969 (period 1) and 1980–2000 (period 2). The means and variances of the two variables in each VTU are compared to identify any times when the changes in rainfall characteristics are most noticeable within the rainfall regime between periods. Both variables yield results consistent with the main rainy season and the long dry season being relatively unchanged, however the short dry spell is becoming wetter and the minor rainy season (September/October) has become significantly drier and shorter. The observations are consistent with the general north–south erosion of the bi-modal regime in West African which is associated with the southward shift of the ITCZ and the monsoonal system. This phenomenon is believed to be ongoing for the last 10,000 years in step with the hypothesized shift of the perihelion into the boreal winter. The use of independent arbitrary starting dates and durations (VTU) advances the understanding of temporal variability of rainfall, at a scale appropriate to agricultural practices in the study area.     

CHARACTERISTICS AND TRENDS OF CLIMATIC EXTREMES IN CHINA DURING 1959–2014

The spatial and temporal variations of daily maximum temperature(Tmax), daily minimum temperature(Tmin), daily maximum precipitation(Pmax) and daily maximum wind speed(WSmax) were examined in China using Mann-Kendall test and linear regression method. The results indicated that for China as a whole, Tmax, Tmin and Pmax had significant increasing trends at rates of 0.15℃ per decade, 0.45℃ per decade and 0.58 mm per decade,respectively, while WSmax had decreased significantly at 1.18 m·s~(-1) per decade during 1959—2014. In all regions of China, Tmin increased and WSmax decreased significantly. Spatially, Tmax increased significantly at most of the stations in South China(SC), northwestern North China(NC), northeastern Northeast China(NEC), eastern Northwest China(NWC) and eastern Southwest China(SWC), and the increasing trends were significant in NC, SC, NWC and SWC on the regional average. Tmin increased significantly at most of the stations in China, with notable increase in NEC, northern and southeastern NC and northwestern and eastern NWC. Pmax showed no significant trend at most of the stations in China, and on the regional average it decreased significantly in NC but increased in SC, NWC and the mid-lower Yangtze River valley(YR). WSmax decreased significantly at the vast majority of stations in China, with remarkable decrease in northern NC, northern and central YR, central and southern SC and in parts of central NEC and western NWC. With global climate change and rapidly economic development, China has become more vulnerable to climatic extremes and meteorological disasters, so more strategies of mitigation and/or adaptation of climatic extremes,such as environmentally-friendly and low-cost energy production systems and the enhancement of engineering defense measures are necessary for government and social publics.