Characteristics of extreme daily minimum and maximum temperature over Northeast China, 1961–2009

In this study, the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis method is employed to determine the thresholds of extreme events. Subsequently, the characteristics of extreme temperatures have been analyzed over Northeast China during 1961–2009. Approximately 58 % of stations have negative interdecadal trends of ?2.2 days/10 years to 0 days/10 years in extreme low minimum temperature (ELMT) frequency. Notable positive trend of 0–2.5 days/10 years in extreme high maximum temperature (EHMT) frequency of about 94 % stations are found. Approximately 58 % of stations have decreasing trend in ELMT intensity, whereas 69 % of stations have increasing trend of EHMT intensity. The trends are the range of ?0.72 °C/10 years to 0 °C/10 years and 0–0.7 °C/10 years, respectively. We propose the extreme temperatures indices, ELMT index (ELMTI) and EHMT index (EHMTI), which combined the frequency and intensity of extreme temperatures to represent the order of severity of extreme temperatures. According to this approach, serious ELMT mainly occur in the Songliao Plain and the Sanjiang Plain, especially in the Songliao Plain. Serious EHMT distinctly occur in the Sanjing Plain, and the southwestern and northwestern regions of Northeast China in recent five decades.