Changes of Precipitation Intensity Spectra in Different Regions of Mainland China During 1961-2006

The spectral characteristics of precipitation intensity during warm and cold years are compared in six regions of China based on precipitation data at 404 meteorological stations during 1961-2006.In all of the studied regions except North China,with the increasing temperature,a decreasing trend is observed in light precipitation and the number of light precipitation days,while an increasing trend appears in heavy precipitation and the heavy precipitation days.Although changes in precipitation days in North China are similar to the changes in the other five regions,heavy precipitation decreases with the increasing temperature in this region.These results indicate that in most parts of China,the amount of precipitation and number of precipitation days have shifted towards heavy precipitation under the background of a warming climate;however,the responses of precipitation distributions to global warming differ from place to place.The number of light precipitation days decreases in the warm and humid regions of China(Jianghuai region,South China,and Southwest China),while the increasing amplitude of heavy precipitation and the number of heavy precipitation days are greater in the warm and humid regions of China than that in the northern regions(North China,Northwest China,and Northeast China).In addition,changes are much more obvious in winter than in summer,indicating that the changes in the precipitation frequency are more affected by the increasing temperature during winter than summer.The shape and scale parameters of the Γ distribution of daily precipitation at most stations of China have increased under the background of global warming.The scale parameter changes are smaller than the shape parameter changes in all regions except Northwest China.This suggests that daily precipitation shifts toward heavy precipitation in China under the warming climate.The number of extreme precipitation events increases slightly,indicating that changes in the Γ distribution fitting parameters reflect changes in the regional precipitation distribution structure.     

Simulation of Effects of Land Use Change on Climate in China by a Regional Climate Model

Climate effects of land use change in China as simulated by a regional climate model (RegCM2)are investigated. The model is nested in one-way mode within a global coupled atmosphere-ocean model(CSIRO R21L9 AOGCM). Two multi-year simulations, one with current land use and the other with potential vegetation cover, are conducted. Statistically significant changes of precipitation, surface air temperature, and daily maximum and daily minimum temperature are analyzed based on the difference between the two simulations. The simulated effects of land use change over China include a decrease of mean annual precipitation over Northwest China, a region with a prevalence of arid and semi-arid areas;an increase of mean annual surfaoe air temperature over some areas; and a decrease of temperature along coastal areas. Summer mean daily maximum temperature increases in many locations, while winter mean daily minimum temperature decreases in East China and increases in Northwest China. The upper soil moisture decreases significantly across China. The results indicate that the same land use change may cause different climate effects in different regions depending on the surrounding environment and climate characteristics.     

Changes in the Covariability of Surface Air Temperature and Precipitation over East Asia Associated with Climate Shift in the Late 1970s

Variations in surface air temperature and precipitation are closely associated because of their thermodynamic relations. The climate shift in the late 1970s and associated changes in precipitation over East Asia have been well reported. However, how the covariability of surface air temperature and precipitation responds to the climate shift is not yet well understood. We used the observed mean（Tmean）, daily maximum（Tmax）, and minimum（Tmin） surface air temperatures and precipitation during the period of 1953–2000 to explore this issue. Results show that the covariability between Tmean and precipitation experienced remarkable changes over certain areas of East Asia after the climate shift with evident seasonal dependencies. In winter, after the climate shift significantly negative correlations occupied more areas over Mongolia and China. By contrast, in summer after the climate shift significantly negative correlations which existed over almost entire East Asia during the pre-shift period were mostly weakened with the exception of enhanced correlations over some small isolated areas. Changes in the covariability of Tmax and precipitation showed a similar spatial pattern to that of the Tmean, whereas the Tmin-precipitation covariability did not. In winter, after the climate shift positive correlations between Tmin and precipitation over southern China were largely weakened, while the areas with significantly negative correlations increased over Mongolia. In summer, changes in Tmin-precipitation covariability appeared to be a negative-positive-negative pattern from south to north over East Asia, with positive changes occurring in the Yangtze-Huai River valley and Korea and negative changes occurring over South China and Japan, and northern part of East Asia.     

Temperature and Precipitation Changes in China During the Holocene

We review here proxy records of temperature and precipitation in China during the Holocene, especially the last two millennia. The quality of proxy data, methodology of reconstruction, and uncertainties in reconstruction were emphasized in comparing different temperature and precipitation reconstruction and clarifying temporal and spatial patterns of temperature and precipitation during the Holocene. The Holocene climate was generally warm and wet. The warmest period occurred in 9.6-6.2 cal ka BP, whereas a period of maximum monsoon precipitation started at about 11.0 cal ka BP and lasted until about 8.0-5.0 cal ka BP. There were a series of millennial-scale cold or dry events superimposed on the general trend of climate changes. During past two millennia, a warming trend in the 20th century was clearly detected, but the warming magnitude was smaller than the maximum level of the Medieval Warm Period and the Middle Holocene. Cold conditions occurred over the whole of China during the Little Ice Age （AD 1400-AD 1900）, but the warming of the Medieval Warm Period （AD 900-AD 1300） was not distinct in China, especially west China. The spatial pattern of precipitation showed significant regional differences in China, especially east China. The modern warm period has lasted 20 years from 1987 to 2006. Bi-decadal oscillation in precipitation variability was apparent over China during the 20th century. Solar activity and volcanic eruptions both were major forcings governing the climate variability during the last millennium.     

MM5 Simulations of the China Regional Climate During the LGM. Ⅱ： Influence of Change of Land Area,Vegetation, and Large-scale Circulation Background

Using a regional climate model MM5 nested to an atmospheric global climate model CCM3, a series of simulations and sensitivity experiments have been performed to investigate the relative LGM climate response to changes of land-sea distribution, vegetation, and large-scale circulation background over China. Model results show that compared with the present climate, the fluctuations of sea-land distribution in eastern Asia during the LGM result in the temperature decrease in winter and increase in summer. It has significant impact on the temperature and precipitation in the east coastal region of China. The impact on precipitation in the east coastal region of China is the most significant one, with 25%-50% decrease in the total precipitation change during the LGM. On the other hand, the changes in sea-land distribution have less influence on the climate of inland and western part of China. During the LGM, significant changes in vegetation result in temperature alternating with winter increase and summer decrease, but differences in the annual mean temperature are minor. During the LGM, the global climate, i.e., the large-scale circulation background has changed significantly. These changes have significant influences on temperature and precipitation over China. They result in considerable temperature decreases in this area, and direct the primary patterns and characteristics of temperature changes. Results display that, northeastern China has the greatest temperature decrease, and the temperature decrease in the Tibetan Plateau is larger than in the eastern part of China located at the same latitude. Moreover, the change of large-scale circulation background also controls the pattern of precipitation change. Results also show that, most of the changes in precipitation over western and northeastern parts of China are the consequences of changing large-scale circulation background, of which 50%-75% of precipitation changes over northern and eastern China are the results of changes in large-scale circulation backgrou     

Changes in Regional Heavy Rainfall Events in China during 1961–2012

A new technique for identifying regional climate events, the Objective Identification Technique for Regional Extreme Events(OITREE), was applied to investigate the characteristics of regional heavy rainfall events in China during the period1961–2012. In total, 373 regional heavy rainfall events(RHREs) were identified during the past 52 years. The East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) had an important influence on the annual variations of China's RHRE activities, with a significant relationship between the intensity of the RHREs and the intensity of the Mei-yu. Although the increase in the frequency of those RHREs was not significant, China experienced more severe and extreme regional rainfall events in the 1990 s. The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the northern part of South China were the regions in the country most susceptible to extreme precipitation events. Some stations showed significant increasing trends in the southern part of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the northern part of South China, while parts of North China, regions between Guangxi and Guangdong, and northern Sichuan showed decreasing trends in the accumulated intensity of RHREs.The spatial distribution of the linear trends of events' accumulated intensity displayed a similar so-called "southern flooding and northern drought" pattern over eastern China in recent decades.     

A Study of the Impacts of the Spatial Differences in Climate Engineering Programs on the Intensities of Extreme High-Temperature Events in China Under A 1.5℃ Temperature Control Target

Based on the daily maximum temperature data and average temperature data prediction for the period ranging from 2020 to 2099 under the scenario of BNU-ESM climate engineering(G4 test) and non-climate engineering(RCP4.5), the regional differences in the extreme high-temperature intensities in China during the implementation of climate engineering programs(2020 to 2069) and after the implementation of those programs(2070 to 2099) were analyzed using the Weibull Distribution Theory. The results are as follows.(1) The comparison of the two scenarios shows that climate engineering has not fundamentally changed the spatial variation of the intensity of extreme hightemperature events in different recurring periods in China. It was found that in both scenarios, the extreme hightemperature intensities were characterized by the spatial differentiations of low-temperature intensities on the QinghaiTibet Plateau, and high-temperature intensities in the eastern and northwestern region.(2) The comparison of the two scenarios shows that climate engineering in the two study periods could help mitigate the extreme high-temperature intensities with different recurrence periods in China, and the mitigation effects during the implementation period would be significantly higher than those after the implementation.(3) The comparison between the periods ranging from 2020 to 2069 and 2070 to 2099 under the proposed climate engineering scenarios suggests that there would be no strong rebounding of extreme high-temperatures following the implementation of climate engineering programs. Moreover, the mitigation effect of extreme high-temperature intensity during the implementation of climate engineering is significantly higher than that after the completion of climate engineering.(4) According to the comparison between the average temperature changes in China before and after the implementation of the climate project, the average temperature in China has been reduced by at least 1.25 ℃, which effectively alleviates global warming and is conducive to the realization of the 1.5 ℃ temperature control target of the Paris Agreement.     

The Effects of Land Cover Change on Regional Climate over the Eastern Part of Northwest China

A regional climate model(Reg CM4) is employed to investigate the impacts of land use/cover change(LUCC) on the climate over the eastern part of Northwest China(ENW) in the periods of 2001 and 2011. The results indicated that the LUCC in ENW, which was characterized by desert retreat, reforestation, and farmland expansion, led to significant local changes in surface air temperature(within ~0.3°C) and slight regional changes in precipitation(within ~15%) in summer. In the desert retreat area, the net absorbed shortwave radiation had a greater influence than evaporative cooling, leading to increases in the daily mean and maximum temperature. Besides, the daily mean and maximum temperatures increased in the reforestation area but decreased in the farmland expansion area. As surface albedo showed no significant change in these regions, the temperature increase in the reforestation area can be attributed to a decrease in evaporation, while the opposite effect appears to have been the case in the farmland expansion area.     

A Modeling Study of Climate Change and Its Implication for Agriculture in China Part II: The Implication of Climate Change for Agriculture in China

The potential CO2-induced impacts on the geographical shifts of wheat growth zones in China were studied from seven GCMs outputs. The wheat growth regions may move northward and westward under the condition of a doubling CO2 climate. The wheat cultivation features and variety types may also assume significant changes. Climatic warming would have a positive influence in Northeast China, but high temperature stress may be produced in some regions of central and southern China. Higher mean air temperatures during wheat growth, particularly during the reproductive stages, may increase the need for earlier-maturing and more heat-tolerant cultivars.     

The Projection of Temperature and Precipitation over China under RCP Scenarios using a CMIP5 Multi-Model Ensemble

Climate changes in 21st century China are described based on the projections of 11 climate models under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. The results show that warming is expected in all regions of China under the RCP scenarios, with the northern regions showing greater warming than the southern regions. The warming tendency from 2011 to 2100 is 0.06°C/10 a for RCP2.6, 0.24°C/10 a for RCP4.5, and 0.63°C/10 a for RCP8.5. The projected time series of annual temperature have similar variation tendencies as the new greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenario pathways, and the warming under the lower emission scenarios is less than under the higher emission scenarios. The regional averaged precipitation will increase, and the increasing precipitation in the northern regions is significant and greater than in the southern regions in China. It is noted that precipitation will tend to decrease in the southern parts of China during the period of 2011-2040, especially under RCP8.5. Compared with the changes over the globe and some previous projections, the increased warming and precipitation over China is more remarkable under the higher emission scenarios. The uncertainties in the projection are unavoidable, and further analyses are necessary to develop a better understanding of the future changes over the region.     

黑龙江省1981-2010年气候平均值的变化及对气候评价的影响

利用黑龙江省气候评价业务使用的71个气象台站的气温、降水和日照时数资料,对1981-2010年气候平均值和1971-2000年气候平均值进行比较。结果表明:黑龙江省大部地区年平均气温升高,冬季偏暖突出;年降水量大部地区增多,春季、夏季、冬季降水量增多,秋季减少,7月降水量增幅最大;年日照时数大部地区减少。     

Trends and periodicity of daily temperature and precipitation extremes during 1960–2013 in Hunan Province,central south China

In this study, the trends and periodicity in climate extremes are examined in Hunan Province over the period 1960–2013 on the basis of 27 extreme climate indices calculated from daily temperature and precipitation records at 89 meteorological stations. The results show that in the whole province, temperature extremes exhibit a warming trend with more than 50% stations being statistically significant for 7 out of 16 temperature indices, and the nighttime temperature increases faster than the daytime temperature at the annual scale. The changes in most extreme temperature indices show strongly coherent spatial patterns. Moreover, the change rates of almost all temperature indices in north Hunan are greater than those of other regions. However, the statistically significant changes in indices of extreme precipitation are observed at fewer stations than in extreme temperature indices, forming less spatially coherent patterns. Positive trends in indices of extreme precipitation show that the amount and intensity of extreme precipitation events are generally increasing in both annual and seasonal scales, whereas the significant downward trend in consecutive wet days indicates that the precipitation becomes more even over the study period. Analysis of changes in probability distributions of extreme indices for 1960–1986 and 1987–2013 also demonstrates a remarkable shift toward warmer condition and increasing tendency in the amount and intensity of extreme precipitation during the past decades. The variations in extreme climate indices exhibit inconstant frequencies in the wavelet power spectrum. Among the 16 temperature indices, 2 of them show significant 1-year periodic oscillation and 7 of them exhibit significant 4-year cycle during some certain periods. However, significant periodic oscillations can be found in all of the precipitation indices. Wet-day precipitation and three absolute precipitation indices show significant 1-year cycle and other seven provide significant power at the 4-year period, which are mainly found during 1970–1980 and after 1992.     

Decadal climate variability in the Mediterranean region: roles of large-scale forcings and regional processes

We analyze decadal climate variability in the Mediterranean region using observational datasets over the period 1850–2009 and a regional climate model simulation for the period 1960–2000, focusing in particular on the winter (DJF) and summer (JJA) seasons. Our results show that decadal variability associated with the winter and summer manifestations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO and SNAO respectively) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) significantly contribute to decadal climate anomalies over the Mediterranean region during these seasons. Over 30% of decadal variance in DJF and JJA precipitation in parts of the Mediterranean region can be explained by NAO and SNAO variability respectively. During JJA, the AMO explains over 30% of regional surface air temperature anomalies and Mediterranean Sea surface temperature anomalies, with significant influence also in the transition seasons. In DJF, only Mediterranean SST still significantly correlates with the AMO while regional surface air temperature does not. Also, there is no significant NAO influence on decadal Mediterranean surface air temperature anomalies during this season. A simulation with the PROTHEUS regional ocean–atmosphere coupled model is utilized to investigate processes determining regional decadal changes during the 1960–2000 period, specifically the wetter and cooler 1971–1985 conditions versus the drier and warmer 1986–2000 conditions. The simulation successfully captures the essence of observed decadal changes. Model set-up suggests that AMO variability is transmitted to the Mediterranean/European region and the Mediterranean Sea via atmospheric processes. Regional feedbacks involving cloud cover and soil moisture changes also appear to contribute to observed changes. If confirmed, the linkage between Mediterranean temperatures and the AMO may imply a certain degree of regional decadal climate predictability. The AMO and other decadal influences outlined here should be considered along with those from long-term increases in greenhouse gas forcings when making regional climate out-looks for the Mediterranean 10–20?years out.     

华南春季降水的年代际变化及其与大气环流和海温的关系

利用1960—2010年中国降水资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、NOAA提供的海表温度资料以及太平洋年代际振荡(Pacific Decadal Oscillation,PDO)指数,分析了华南春季降水的年代际变化特征及其与大气环流和海温的关系。结果表明:华南春季降水经历了偏少(1960—1971年)—偏多(1972—1992年)—次偏少(1993—2010年)三个阶段。第一阶段少雨期,500 hPa上西风气流较平直,不利于北方冷空气南下,华南地区的暖气团也不活跃,对应的水汽通量散度为异常辐散。第二阶段多雨期,500 hPa高度上,高原北部脊偏强,利于冷空气南下,与华南地区活跃的暖湿气团汇合,对应的水汽场上为水汽异常辐合。第三阶段少雨期,500 hPa西风气流上的槽脊系统偏强,利于北方强冷空气南下,孟加拉湾地区的南支槽填塞,南方暖湿空气向华南的输送减弱。华南春季降水与PDO指数存在正相关关系,从不同季节来看,在年代际时间尺度上,前期秋季的PDO指数与华南春季降水的正相关显著,PDO处于负位相时,华南春季降水偏少,反之亦然;从华南春季降水年代际变化的不同阶段来看,PDO指数与华南春季降水的正相关在1960—1971年少雨期较显著。     

土地利用变化对我国区域气候影响的数值试验

使用RegCM2区域气候模式单向嵌套澳大利亚CSIRO R21L9全球海-气耦合模式,通过将中国区域植被覆盖由理想状况改变为实际状况的数值试验对比分析,探讨了当代中国土地利用变化对中国区域气候的影响,并对结果进行了统计显著性检验。研究表明,土地利用的变化,会导致我国西北等地区年平均降水减少,导致年平均气温在内陆部分地区升高和在沿海个别地区降低,引起许多地方夏季日平均最高气温升高,而冬季日平均最低气温则在我国东部部分地区降低的同时在西北地区升高,土壤湿度的变化表现为大范围的降低。研究同时表明,相同的土地变化在不同的地理环境下引起的气候要素变化有一定的不一致性。     

环太湖地区气候变化特征研究

根据1971—2010年环太湖地区苏州、常州、长兴等9个气象台站日平均气温和日降水量资料,采用EOF正交经验分析法、线性倾向率法、小波分析法和Mann-Kendall检验法研究了环太湖地区近40 a来的气候变化特征。结果表明:1) 1971—2010年间,环太湖地区整体上呈增暖趋势,环太湖地区的季节性增暖存在空间差异,西北部的气温在春、夏季明显升高,而东南部则在秋、冬季明显增暖,1990年前后该地区的增暖率存在完全相反的空间分布。2)该40 a中,降水表现为北部增加,南部减少。整个环太湖地区的降水在冬季普遍呈现增加趋势,春、夏季降水的空间分布差异性大于秋、冬季。3) M orlet小波分析结果表明,环太湖地区年平均温度存在16～17 a和6 a、26 a左右的变化周期;年降水量存在15～16 a和24 a的强显著性变化周期,各地区在年均温、年降水量周期振荡的强度上存在一定的差异。4) Mann-Kendall突变检验显示,1971—2010年环太湖地区各站点均表现为气温由低向高的突变,突变发生在1992—1993年。     

云南近50 年来的气候变化

利用1961—2008 年云南省124 站及其相邻省市区的37 个地面站的逐日平均气温、降水量资料,客观分析了考虑气温垂直递减率的气温细网格数据。在此基础上,分析研究了云南近50 年来的气候变化。(1)云南近50 年来的气温变化,趋势上与北半球和全国一致,但气候变暖的速率相对缓慢;(2) 云南气候带面积有明显变化,北热带和南亚热带面积增加,而中亚热带、北亚热带和温带的面积减少;(3) 云南冬季是气温上升幅度最大的季节,然后依次是秋季、夏季和春季,虽然近50 年来云南大部分区域气温呈上升趋势,但少数区域气温却呈下降趋势,这些降温区主要集中在低海拔河谷地区;(4) 云南近50 年来降水量年平均变化不大,但季节和空间分布的变化却比较明显,雨季和主汛期降水量呈下降趋势,干季呈上升趋势;在空间分布上,滇东地区呈一致性下降趋势,滇中呈一致性上升趋势;滇西和滇南地区降水量的增减趋势呈交错分布。      

中国富士苹果种植的气候适宜性研究

基于中国1981-2010年2084个气象台站资料和203个富士苹果种植区分布的地理数据,利用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型和ArcGIS平台,从物种分布机理与品质两方面研究了影响富士苹果在中国分布的主导气候因子及适宜范围,并对其气候适宜性进行区域划分和评价。结果表明,影响富士苹果在中国分布的主导气候因子有8个,富士苹果地理分布的气候适宜范围分别为年日照时数2000-2500 h、年平均气温7-14℃、≥10℃积温3000-4800℃·d、最冷月平均气温-7-0℃、夏季气温平均日较差8-12℃、年降水量400-800 mm、夏季平均气温20-26℃、夏季平均空气相对湿度60%-78%。中国富士苹果的气候适宜区主要分布在黄土高原、环渤海湾和黄河古道,其中,黄土高原区的陕西、山西和甘肃气候适宜度最高,而山东和河北两省富士苹果规模化种植还有较大发展空间。      

新旧气候平均值的差异及其对西南气候业务的影响

选取西南地区短期气候预测业务选定的81个气象站,将其1971~2000年30年气候平均值与1981~2010年30年气候平均值进行比较,结果发现,就西南大部分地区而言,前者所表征的气候较后者更冷湿。把两个平均值放在长序列中分析,发现冬季平均气温和汛期降水量平均值的变化幅度较大,这些变化已经对气候影响评价、气候预测业务产生影响。     

RegCM4模式对雄安及周边区域气候变化的集合预估

基于CSIRO-Mk3-6-0、EC-EARTH、HadGEM2-ES和MPI-ESM-MR共4个全球气候模式,分别驱动区域气候模式RegCM4,所进行的RCP4.5（典型浓度路径）中等排放情景下25 km较高水平分辨率东亚区域21世纪气候变化模拟结果,针对雄安新区及周边区域,在对当代（1986~2005）气候进行检验的基础上,进行了该区域未来气候变化的多模拟集合预估,并给出了模拟间的差别。结果表明:RegCM4可以较好地模拟出分析区域当代平均气温和降水的分布及年内月循环变化特征;对与气温相关的极端气候事件指数,日最高气温最高值（TXx）和日最低气温最低值（TNn）,以及和降水相关的指数日最大降水量（RX1day）也有较好的模拟能力。雄安及周边区域未来平均气温、TXx和TNn将不断上升,高温热浪事件在增加的同时,低温事件将减少。未来分析区域平均降水量有所增加;而RX1day的增加更明显,且模拟间的一致性较好,不确定性相对较低,暴雨和洪涝事件的频率和强度均将增大。同时由于气温升高导致的潜在蒸发量相对于降水更大的增加,将使得区域水资源相对不足的现象加重。