Changes in daily climate extremes in the arid area of northwestern China

There has been a paucity of information on trends in daily climate and climate extremes, especially for the arid region. We analyzed the changes in the indices of climate extremes, on the basis of daily maximum and minimum air temperature and precipitation at 59 meteorological stations in the arid region of northwest China over the period 1960–2003. Twelve indices of extreme temperature and six indices of extreme precipitation are examined. Temperature extremes show a warming trend with a large proportion of stations having statistically significant trends for all temperature indices. The regional occurrence of extreme cool days and nights has decreased by ?0.93 and ?2.36 days/decade, respectively. Over the same period, the occurrence of extreme warm days and nights has increased by 1.25 and 2.10 days/decade, respectively. The number of frost days and ice days shows a statistically significant decrease at the rate of ?3.24 and ?2.75 days/decade, respectively. The extreme temperature indices also show the increasing trend, with larger values for the index describing variations in the lowest minimum temperature. The trends of Min Tmin (Tmax) and Max Tmin (Tmax) are 0.85 (0.61) and 0.32 (0.17)?°C/decade. Most precipitation indices exhibit increasing trends across the region. On average, regional maximum 1-day precipitation, annual total wet-day precipitation, and number of heavy precipitation days and very wet days show insignificant increases. Insignificant decreasing trends are also found for consecutive dry days. The rank-sum statistic value of most temperature indices exhibits consistent or statistically significant trends across the region. The regional medians after 1986 of Min Tmin (Tmax), Max Tmin (Tmax), warm days (nights), and warm spell duration indicator show statistically more larger than medians before 1986, but the frost days, ice days, cool days (nights), and diurnal temperature range reversed. The medians of precipitation indices show insignificant change except for consecutive dry days before and after 1986.     

Trends of precipitation extreme indices over a subtropical semi-arid area using PERSIANN-CDR

In this study, satellite-based daily precipitation estimation data from precipitation estimation from remotely sensed information using artificial neural networks (PERSIANN)-climate data record (CDR) are being evaluated in Iran. This dataset (0.25°, daily), which covers over three decades of continuous observation beginning in 1983, is evaluated using rain-gauge data for the period of 1998–2007. In addition to categorical statistics and mean annual amount and number of rainy days, ten standard extreme indices were calculated to observe the behavior of daily extremes. The results show that PERSIANN-CDR exhibits reasonable performance associated with the probability of detection and false-alarm ratio, but it overestimates precipitation in the area. Although PERSIANN-CDR mostly underestimates extreme indices, it shows relatively high correlations (between 0.6316–0.7797) for intensity indices. PERSIANN-CDR data are also used to calculate the trend in annual amounts of precipitation, the number of rainy days, and precipitation extremes over Iran covering the period of 1983–2012. Our analysis shows that, although annual precipitation decreased in the western and eastern regions of Iran, the annual number of rainy days increased in the northern and northwestern areas. Statistically significant negative trends are identified in the 90th percentile daily precipitation, as well as the mean daily precipitation from wet days in the northern part of the study area. The positive trends of the maximum annual number of consecutive dry days in the eastern regions indicate that the dry periods became longer in these arid areas.     

7个IPCC AR4模式对中国地区极端降水指数模拟能力的评估及其未来情景预估

利用中国区域550个站点1961～2000年日降水量资料, 考察参与政府间气候变化委员会(IPCC)第四次评估报告的7个新一代全球模式及多模式集合对现代气候情景下(20C3M)5个极端降水指数的模拟能力, 同时进行中国区域未来不同排放情形下极端降水事件变化的预估, 结果表明: 最新全球模式能较好地模拟出极端降水指数气候场的空间分布及其中国区域的线性趋势, 且模式集合模拟能力优于大部分单个模式, 但在青藏高原东侧、 高原南部存在虚假的极端降水高值区, 模拟的东部季风区的极端降水强度系统性偏低, 区域平均序列年际变率的模拟能力也较低。中国地区21世纪与降水有关的事件都有趋于极端化的趋势, 极端降水强度可能增强, 干旱也将加重, 且变化幅度与排放强度成正比。     

Spatial patterns and temporal trends of daily precipitation indices in Iran

Spatial patterns of daily precipitation indices and their temporal trends over Iran are investigated using the APHRODITE gridded daily precipitation dataset for the period 1961–2004. The performance and limitations of the gridded dataset are checked against observations at ten rain-gauge stations that are representative of different climates in Iran. Results suggest that the spatial patterns of the indices reflect the role of orography and sea neighborhoods in differentiating central-southern arid and semi-arid regions from northern and western mountainous humid areas. It is also found that western Iran is impacted by the most extreme daily precipitation events occurring in the country, though the number of rainy days has its maximum in the Caspian Sea region. The time series of precipitation indices is checked for long-term trends using the least squares method and Mann-Kendall test. The maximum daily precipitation per year shows upward trends in most of Iran, though being statistically significant only in western regions. In the same regions, upward trends are also observed in the number of wet days and in the accumulated precipitation and intensity during wet days. Conversely, the contribution of precipitation events below the 75th percentile to the annual total precipitation is decreasing with time, suggesting that extreme events are responsible for the upward trend observed in the total annual precipitation and in the other indices. This tendency towards more severe/extreme precipitation events, if confirmed by other datasets and further analyses with longer records, would require the implementation of adequate water resources management plans in western Iran aimed at mitigating the increasing risk of intense precipitation and associated flash floods and soil erosion.     

Spatiotemporal variations in climate moisture indices in Georgia under global warming

Using observational data from 50 weather stations in Georgia for the period of 1936-2013, the following climate indices of moisture regime are studied: maximum 1-day precipitation, maximum 5-day precipitation, the simple daily intensity index, the number of days with precipitation equal to not less than 10, 20, and 50 mm, number of consecutive wet and dry days. Geoinformation maps of the spatial structure are plotted, and the dynamics of these indices is studied for the period of global warming. Expected changes in the moisture regime in different physiographic regions in Georgia are assessed.     

Trends of precipitation extremes during 1960–2008 in Xinjiang, the Northwest China

The spatial–temporal variability of the precipitation extremes defined by eight precipitation indices based on daily precipitation dataset was analyzed using the linear regression method and the Mann–Kendall test. The results indicate that increasing trends in the precipitation amount, rainy days, and the intensity of the extreme precipitation were identified at above 70 % of the total rain stations considered in this study, with more than 30 % of them were significant, while most stations show notable decreasing trend in the annual maximum consecutive no-rain days. Significantly increasing trends of the precipitation extremes are observed mainly in the northern Xinjiang and the north of the southern Xinjiang. Most extreme precipitation indices show a potential regime shift starting from the middle of 1980s. The magnitude of the trends is compatible with their pattern of spatial stability. The generally increasing trends in precipitation extremes are found in this study.     

Assessment of climate extremes in the Eastern Mediterranean

Summary Several seasonal and annual climate extreme indices have been calculated and their trends (over 1958 to 2000) analysed to identify possible changes in temperature- and precipitation-related climate extremes over the eastern Mediterranean region. The most significant temperature trends were revealed for summer, where both minimum and maximum temperature extremes show statistically significant warming trends. Increasing trends were also identified for an index of heatwave duration. Negative trends were found for the frequency of cold nights in winter and especially in summer. Precipitation indices highlighted more regional contrasts. The western part of the study region, which comprises the central Mediterranean and is represented by Italian stations, shows significant positive trends towards intense rainfall events and greater amounts of precipitation. In contrast, the eastern half showed negative trends in all precipitation indices indicating drier conditions in recent times. Significant positive trends were revealed for the index of maximum number of consecutive dry days, especially for stations in southern regions, particularly on the islands.Current affiliation: National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece.     

Propagation characteristic of atmospheric responses to abnormal warm SST in the Kuroshio Extension in winter

A complete picture of changes in climate extremes has been presented for Shanxi Province, China using data from all 61 available stations. The results reveal large spatial coherence of trends for the majority of extremes, especially for temperature extremes. Significant and symmetric increasing trends of the annual mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures (TXam, TNam) are detected over the past 50 years. Significant positive trends are detected for warm days and nights (TX90p, TN90p), the highest and lowest maximum and minimum temperatures (TXx, TXn, TNx, TNn), and the growing season length (GSL). Significant negative trends are revealed for cold days and nights (TX10p, TN10p) and frost days (FD). Significant decreases are found in the number of heavy precipitation days (R10mm) and wet day precipitation (PRCPTOT). Although Shanxi and the northern half of North China Plain (NNCP) have been grouped into the North China region and assessed together in previous studies for China, the changes in climate extremes in the NNCP have some pronounced differences in comparison with Shanxi. Noticeably, the increase of the TNam is at a rate nearly three times that of the TXam during 1959–2008 over the NNCP. The warming for the nighttime indices TN90p, TN10p, TNx, and TNn is stronger, but the warming for the daytime indices TX10p, TX90p, and TXx is weaker in the NNCP. There is no significant decrease for R10mm and PRCPTOT in the NNCP.     

Trends in Precipitation Concentration and Extremes in the Mediterranean Penedès-Anoia Region, Ne Spain

The high variability of the Mediterranean climate from year to year and within each year makes it difficult to assess changes that could be associated with a climate change. In this paper some indices, such as changes in the precipitation concentration during the year, maximum 1-day and 5-day precipitation, number of wet days (total and those with precipitation higher than the 75th and 95th percentile), magnitude and frequency of extreme events (considered as the rainfall higher than that corresponding to the 99th percentile), fraction of annual total precipitation due to events exceeding the 95th and 99th percentile, strength of the events, and length and frequency of dry period (days between consecutive rains) are evaluated for the Penedès-Anoia region (NE Spain). A 80-year daily dataset (1923–2002) and two 40-year series were used to assess possible trends. The indices indicate an increase in precipitation in winter and summer and a positive trend of concentration in autumn, with a higher number of extreme events separated by longer dry periods. The total number of wet days per year increased, although it was irregularly distributed over the year, with an increase in the extremes and in the fraction of total rainfall that these events represent in autumn and winter, and with an increase of the strength of the events in autumn. These changes in rainfall distribution have negative effects on water availability for crops and contribute to accelerate erosion processes in the area.     

Variability of extreme summer precipitation over Circum-Bohai-Sea region during 1961�C2008

The variability of extreme summer precipitation over Circum-Bohai-Sea region during 1961?C2008 was investigated based on the daily precipitation data of 63 meteorological stations using the linear regression method, the non-parametric Mann?CKendall test, and the continuous wavelet transform method. The results showed that there were large spatial differences in the trends of extreme summer precipitation indices. Decreasing trends were found in summer total precipitation, extreme precipitation frequency, intensity and proportion, the maximum consecutive wet days (CWD), and the maximum 1- and 5-day precipitation, and the largest decrease was observed in the central coast area (except CWD), although the trends were not statistically significant at the 5% level at most places. Inversely, the maximum consecutive dry days exhibited non-significant increasing trends. Additionally, the significant 2?C4-year periods were detected for eight indices, showing the significant interannual variability of extreme summer precipitation. Overall, the results of this study indicated that in the last 48?years, there was severe water stress over Circum-Bohai-Sea region, especially in the central coast area, which exerted negative effects on economic development and natural ecosystems.     

Recent changes in precipitation extremes in the Heihe River basin,Northwest China

Changes in rainfall extremes pose a serious and additional threat to water resources planning and management, natural and artificial oasis stability, and sustainable development in the fragile ecosystems of arid inland river basins. In this study, the trend and temporal variation of extreme precipitation are analyzed using daily precipitation datasets at 11 stations over the arid inland Heihe River basin in Northwest China from 1960 to 2011. Eight indices of extreme precipitation are studied. The results show statistically significant and large-magnitude increasing and decreasing trends for most indices, primarily in the Qilian Mountains and eastern Hexi Corridor. More frequent and intense rainfall extremes have occurred in the southern part of the desert area than in the northern portion. In general, the temporal variation in precipitation extremes has changed throughout the basin. Wet day precipitation and heavy precipitation days show statistically significant linear increasing trends and step changes in the Qilian Mountains and Hexi Corridor. Consecutive dry days have decreased obviously in the region in most years after approximately the late 1980s, but meanwhile very long dry spells have increased, especially in the Hexi Corridor. The probability density function indicates that very long wet spells have increased in the Qilian Mountains. The East Asian summer monsoon index and western Pacific subtropical high intensity index possess strong and significant negative and positive correlations with rainfall extremes, respectively. Changes in land surface characteristics and the increase in water vapor in the wet season have also contributed to the changes in precipitation extremes over the river basin.     

Regional trends in recent precipitation indices in China

Summary Regional characteristics of recent precipitation indices in China were analyzed from a daily rainfall dataset based on 494 stations during 1961 to 2000. Some indices such as precipitation percentiles, precipitation intensity, and precipitation persistence were used and their inter-decadal differences were shown in this study. Over the last 40 years, precipitation indices in China showed increasing and decreasing trends separated into three main regions. A decreasing trend of annual precipitation and summer precipitation was observed from the southern part of northeast China to the mid-low Yellow River valley and the upper Yangtze River valley. This region also showed a decreasing trend in precipitation intensity and a decreasing trend in the frequency of persistent wet days. On the other hand, increasing trends in precipitation intensity were found in the Xinjiang region (northwest China), the northern part of northeast China, and southeast China, mainly to the south of the mid-low Yangtze River. The indices of persistent wet days and strong rainfall have contributed to the increasing frequency of floods in southeast China and the Xinjiang region in the last two decades. Persistent dry days and weakening rainfall have resulted in the increasing frequency of drought along the Yellow River valley including North China. Regional precipitation characteristics and trends in precipitation indices indicate the climate state variations in the last four decades. A warm-wet climate state was found in northwest China and in the northern part of northeast China. A warm-dry climate state extends from the southern part of northeast China to the Yellow River valley, while a cool-wet summer was found in southeast China, particularly in the mid-low Yangtze River valley over the last two decades.     

土壤湿度年际变化对中国区域极端气候事件模拟的影响研究 I. 基于CAM3.1的模式评估

利用NCAR大气模式CAM3.1对中国区域近40年的极端气候事件进行了模拟试验;在此基础上, 利用1961～2000年中国区域452站的逐日最高、最低气温和降水资料, 从气候平均、年际变化和长期变化趋势等方面全面评估了该模式对中国极端气候事件的模拟能力。结果表明:(1)模式对中国区域极端气候指数气候平均态的大尺度空间分布特征具有一定的模拟能力;模式对极端降水指标空间分布的模拟能力较好, 而对极端气温指标的模拟较差;模式对极端气候指标的模拟存在系统性的偏差, 模拟的极端降水的系统性偏差要远大于对极端温度的模拟。(2)模式对极端气温指数的年际变化特征具有较强的模拟能力, 而对极端降水指数的年际变化基本没有模拟能力;模式模拟的各极端降水指标的年际变幅与观测存在较大的偏差。(3)模式较好地模拟出了暖夜和暖昼指数在中国大部分区域的增加趋势, 但变幅较实测偏小;模式对热浪持续指数长期趋势的模拟则相对略差。模式对极端气温指标长期趋势的模拟能力总体优于对极端降水指标的模拟。模式对极端降水频次和中雨日数长期趋势的模拟尚可, 但对持续湿期长期趋势的空间分布模拟较差。研究结果可为该模式用于极端气候的模拟研究提供一定参考。     

A study on the role of land-atmosphere coupling on the south Asian monsoon climate variability using a regional climate model

The spatial and temporal trends of 11 (7) temperature (precipitation) extreme indices are examined for the Loess Plateau Region (LPR) and its southeast and northwest sub-regions based on daily observations at 214 meteorological stations. Results show widespread significant warming trends for all the temperature extremes except for the diurnal temperature range (DTR) and the lowest daily maximum temperature in each year (TXn) during 1961–2010. When regionally averaged, a significant warming trend is detected for all the indices except for DTR and TXn in the past 50 years. Compared with the entire LPR, a significant warming trend is detected for all the indices except for DTR and TXn over the southeast sub-region of LPR; while it is observed for all the indices over the northwest. The trends for these indices are generally stronger in the northwest than in the southeast in the past 50 years. In contrast, for precipitation indices, only a small percentage of areas show significant drying or wetting trends and, when regionally averaged, none of them displays significant trends during the past 50 years. On the sub-regional scale, however, a larger percentage of areas show significant drying trends for precipitation indices generally over the southeast relative to the entire LPR, and noticeably, the sub-regional average heavy precipitation (R10mm) and wet day precipitation (PRCPTOT) display significant decreasing trends during the past 50 years; whereas only a slightly larger percentage of areas show significant wetting trends for these indices over the northwest compared with the entire LPR, and when sub-regionally averaged, none of the indices have significant trends during the past 50 years.     

Changes in Mean and Extreme Temperature and Precipitation over the Arid Region of Northwestern China:Observation and Projection

This paper reports a comprehensive study on the observed and projected spatiotemporal changes in mean and extreme climate over the arid region of northwestern China, based on gridded observation data and CMIP5 simulations under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The observational results reveal an increase in annual mean temperature since 1961, largely attributable to the increase in minimum temperature. The annual mean precipitation also exhibits a significant increasing tendency. The precipitation amount in the most recent decade was greater than in any preceding decade since 1961. Seasonally,the greatest increase in temperature and precipitation appears in winter and in summer, respectively. Widespread significant changes in temperature-related extremes are consistent with warming, with decreases in cold extremes and increases in warm extremes. The warming of the coldest night is greater than that of the warmest day, and changes in cold and warm nights are more evident than for cold and warm days. Extreme precipitation and wet days exhibit an increasing trend, and the maximum number of consecutive dry days shows a tendency toward shorter duration. Multi-model ensemble mean projections indicate an overall continual increase in temperature and precipitation during the 21 st century. Decreases in cold extremes, increases in warm extremes, intensification of extreme precipitation, increases in wet days, and decreases in consecutive dry days, are expected under both emissions scenarios, with larger changes corresponding to stronger radiative forcing.     

Dry spell characteristics over India based on IMD and APHRODITE datasets

Selected characteristics of dry spells and associated trends over India during the 1951–2007 period is studied using two gridded datasets: the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Asian Precipitation-Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of the water resources (APHRODITE) datasets. Two precipitation thresholds, 1 and 3 mm, are used to define a dry day (and therefore dry spells) in this study. Comparison of the spatial patterns of the dry spell characteristics (mean number of dry days, mean number of dry spells, mean and maximum duration of dry spells) for the annual and summer monsoon period obtained with both datasets agree overall, except for the northernmost part of India. The number of dry days obtained with APHRODITE is larger for this region compared to IMD, which is consistent with the smaller precipitation for the region in APHRODITE. These differences are also visible in the spatial patterns of mean and maximum dry spell durations. Analysis of field significance associated with trends, at the level of 34 predefined meteorological subdivisions over the mainland, suggests better agreement between the two datasets in positive trends associated with number of dry days for the annual and summer monsoon period, for both thresholds. Important differences between the two datasets are noted in the field significance associated with the negative trends. While negative trends in annual maximum duration of dry spells appear field significant for the desert regions according to both datasets, they are found field significant for two regions (Punjab and South Interior Karnataka) for the monsoon period for both datasets. This study, in addition to providing information on the spatial and temporal patterns associated with dry spell characteristics, also allows identification of regions and characteristics where the two datasets agree/disagree.     

6.25 km高分辨率降尺度数据对雄安新区及整个京津冀地区未来极端气候事件的预估

基于RCP4.5情景下6.25 km高分辨率统计降尺度数据,使用国际上通用的极端气候事件指数,分析雄安新区及整个京津冀地区未来极端气候事件的可能变化。首先对当代模拟结果进行评估,结果表明,集合平均模拟可以较好地再现大部分极端气候事件指数的分布,且对与气温有关的极端气候事件指数模拟效果较好。但也存在一定偏差,特别是对连续干旱日数(CDD)的模拟效果相对较差。集合平均的预估结果表明,未来在全球变暖背景下,雄安新区及整个京津冀地区均表现为极端暖事件增多,极端冷事件减少,连续干旱日数减少,极端强降水事件增多。具体来看,到21世纪末期,日最高气温最高值(TXx)和日最低气温最低值(TNn)在整个区域上都是增加的,大部分地区增加值分别超过2.4℃和3.2℃;夏季日数(SU)和热带夜数(TR)也都表现为增加,但两者的变化分布基本相反,其中SU在山区增加幅度较大,平原地区增加幅度较小,而TR在平原地区的增加值较山区更显著,两个指数未来增加值分别为20~40 d和5~40 d;霜冻日数(FD)和冰冻日数(ID)都表现为减少,减少值分别超过10 d和5 d;与降水有关的极端气候事件指数,CDD、降雨日数(R_1mm)和中雨日数(R_10mm)的变化均以减少为主,但数值较小,一般都在?10%~0之间;最大5 d降水量(R_X5day)、降水强度(SDII)和大雨日数(R_20mm)主要表现为增加,增加值一般在0~25%之间。从区域平均的变化来看,与气温有关的极端气候事件指数的变化趋势较为显著,与降水有关的极端气候事件指数变化趋势较小。两个区域对比来看,雄安新区模式间的不确定性更大,反映出模式对较小区域模拟的不足。     

1957-2005年河南省降水和温度极端事件变化

利用河南省1957-2005年逐日降水,最高、最低和日平均气温资料,分析了近50 a河南省极端天气事件的变化趋势。结果表明：1957-2005年河南省暴雨日数、极端降水事件和严重干燥事件发生频率都在增加,但其线性趋势并不显著;暴雨和极端降水的变化趋势呈明显的南北差异;异常高温事件增加而异常低温事件减少,暖冬的趋势比较显著;高温日数和低温日数都显著减少,其变化趋势的空间分布具有很好的一致性。     

1957-2005年河南省降水和温度极端事件变化

 利用河南省1957-2005年逐日降水,最高、最低和日平均气温资料,分析了近50 a河南省极端天气事件的变化趋势。结果表明：1957-2005年河南省暴雨日数、极端降水事件和严重干燥事件发生频率都在增加,但其线性趋势并不显著;暴雨和极端降水的变化趋势呈明显的南北差异;异常高温事件增加而异常低温事件减少,暖冬的趋势比较显著;高温日数和低温日数都显著减少,其变化趋势的空间分布具有很好的一致性。     

Prevailing trends of climatic extremes across Indus-Delta of Sindh-Pakistan

This study examines the variability and change in the patterns of climatic extremes experienced in Indus-Delta of Sindh province of Pakistan, comprising regions of Karachi, Badin, Mohenjodaro, and Rohri. The homogenized daily minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation data for a 36-year period were used to calculate 13 and 11 indices of temperature and precipitation extremes with the help of RClimDex, a program written in the statistical software package R. A non-parametric Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimates were used to determine the statistical significance and magnitude of the calculated trend. Temperatures of summer days and tropical nights increased in the region with overall significant warming trends for monthly maximum temperature as well as for warm days and nights reflecting dry conditions in the study area. The warm extremes and nighttime temperature indices showed greater trends than cold extremes and daytime indices depicting an overall warming trends in the Delta. Historic decrease in the acreage of major crops and over 33% decrease in agriculture credit for Sindh are the indicators of adverse impacts of warmer and drier weather on Sindh agriculture. Trends reported for Karachi and Badin are expected to decrease rice cultivation, hatching of fisheries, and mangroves forest surrounding these cities. Increase in the prevailing temperature trends will lead to increasingly hotter and drier summers resulting to constraints on cotton, wheat, and rice yield in Rohri and Mohenjodaro areas due to increased crop water requirements that may be met with additional groundwater pumping; nonetheless, the depleted groundwater resources would have a direct impact on the region’s economy.