Changes of Climate Extremes in China

Changes in China's temperature and precipitation extremes have been studied by using observational data after 1950. The results reveal that mean minimum temperature has increased significantly in China during the past 40 years, especially in the winter in northern China. Meanwhile, nation-wide cold wave activity has weakened and the frequency of cold days in northern China has been reduced significantly. Mean maximum temperatures display no statistically significant trend for China as a whole. However, decreasing summer mean maximum temperatures are obvious in eastern China, where the number of hot days has been reduced. Seasonal 1-day extreme maximum temperatures mainly reflect decreasing trends, while seasonal 1-day extreme minimum temperatures are increasing.A statistically significant reduction of much above normal rain days in China has been detected. Contrarily, an increasing trend was detected in much above normal of precipitation intensity (precipitation/number of precipitation days) during the past 45 years.     

Latest update of the climatology and changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation over China

Based on daily precipitation data from 524 meteorological stations in China during the period 1960–2009, the climatology and the temporal changes (trends, interannual, and decadal variations) in the proportion of seasonal precipitation to the total annual precipitation were analyzed on both national and regional scales. Results indicated that (1) for the whole country, the climatology in the seasonal distribution of precipitation showed that the proportion accounted for 55 % in summer (June–August), for around 20 % in both spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), and around 5 % in winter (December–February). But the spatial features were region-dependent. The primary precipitation regime, “summer–autumn–spring–winter”, was located in central and eastern regions which were north of the Huaihe River, in eastern Tibet, and in western Southwest China. The secondary regime, “summer–spring–autumn–winter”, appeared in the regions south of the Huaihe River, except Jiangnan where spring precipitation dominated, and the southeastern Hainan Island where autumn precipitation prevailed. (2) For the temporal changes on the national scale, first, where the trends were concerned, the proportion of winter precipitation showed a significantly increasing trend, while that of the other three seasons did not show any significant trends. Second, for the interannual variation, the variability in summer was the largest among the four seasons and that in winter was the smallest. Then, on the decadal scale, China experienced a sharp decrease only in the proportion of summer precipitation in 2000. (3) For the temporal changes on the regional scale, all the concerned 11 geographic regions of China underwent increasing trends in the proportion of winter precipitation. For spring, it decreased over the regions south of the Yellow River but increased elsewhere. The trend in the proportion of summer precipitation was generally opposite to that of spring. For autumn, it decreased over the other ten regions except Inner Mongolia with no trend. It is noted that the interannual variability of precipitation seasonality is large over North China, Huanghuai, and Jianghuai; its decadal variability is large over the other regions, especially over those regions south of the Yangtze River.     

1755年中国东部极端雨涝事件研究

1755年（清乾隆二十年）我国东部大范围、多流域严重雨涝,其后1756、1757年黄河中下游雨涝,连续2年呈现较少见的北涝南旱降水分布格局,这是小冰期中相对温暖时段气候背景下的重大气象灾害和极端气候事件。依据历史文献记载复原多雨的天气实况和气候特征,绘制各年多雨、水灾和伴生的饥荒、虫灾、疫疾的发生地域实况图。结果表明,1755年黄河、长江中下游和淮河流域持续多雨,其中黄淮地区连续雨日超过40 d。有早梅雨,长江下游的梅雨期长达43 d,是18世纪最长的梅雨期,南京的年降水量达1378 mm,是18世纪的最高值。1755年气温偏低,夏寒、秋霜早、冬季寒冷等特征与典型的极端多雨年1823和1954年相同,这3例极端多雨年都是太阳活动周的极小年。     

Problems in Estimating Impacts of Future Climate Change on Midwestern Corn Yields

Recent studies of trends in Midwestern precipitation show marked increases over the last 50 years of the 20th Century, and most climate models project that future rainfall in the Corn Belt will be increased further. During five years, 1988–1991 and 1994, field tests were conducted on agricultural test plots in central Illinois, an area typical of the Corn Belt, to discern how corn yields reacted to varying levels of added rainfall (+10%, +25%, and +40%) during the growing season. The best treatment over the five years was a 40% rain increase, with an average yield increase of 9%. Its yield increase was up to 34% in a hot-dry year, but below that of natural rainfall in a wet year as were the yields of the other lesser increases. The average yield changes from the three treatments were not statistically significantly different. Major interannual yield differences were found in the yields for each rain treatment, reflecting how rain timing and temperatures also have major effects on yields. A 40% summer rain increase has little influence if natural rains do not occur in the high stress period of mid summer. The plots results show that only small average increases in corn yields occur from growing season rain additions in the 10% to 40% range, except in dry years. Weather-crop yield regression models incorporating the same rain increases predict greater yield increases than found in these field tests. This suggests that future yields projected for a wetter climate using yield-weather models may be over-estimated. The plot sample size is small but conditions sampled in the five years represented 43% of all past 97 growing seasons in central Illinois and extremely good and bad weather years, which resulted in large between-year yield differences. Hence, the experimental results provide useful information about how increased rainfall may affect future corn yields, especially since the sample included three of the five types of dry growing seasons found in the area's climate since 1900.     

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.     

Changes in Canada's Climate: Trends in Indices Based on Daily Temperature and Precipitation Data

ABSTRACT

Trends in indices based on daily temperature and precipitation are examined for two periods: 1948–2016 for all stations in Canada and 1900–2016 for stations in the south of Canada. These indices, a number of which reflect extreme events, are considered to be impact relevant. The results show changes consistent with warming, with larger trends associated with cold temperatures. The number of summer days (when daily maximum temperature >25°C) has increased at most locations south of 65°N, and the number of hot days (daily maximum temperature >30°C) and hot nights (daily minimum temperature >22°C) have increased at a few stations in the most southerly regions. Very warm temperatures in both summer and winter (represented by the 95th percentile of their daily maximum and minimum temperatures, respectively) have increased across the country, with stronger trends in winter. Warming is more pronounced for cold temperatures. The frost-free season has become longer with fewer frost days, consecutive frost days, and ice days. Very cold temperatures in both winter and summer (represented by the 5th percentile of their daily maximum and minimum temperatures, respectively) have increased substantially across the country, again with stronger trends in the winter. Changes in other temperature indices are consistent with warming. The growing season is now longer, and the number of growing degree-days has increased. The number of heating degree-days has decreased across the country, while the number of cooling degree-days has increased at many stations south of 55°N. The frequency of annual and spring freeze–thaw days shows an increase in the interior provinces and a decrease in the remainder of the country. Changes in precipitation indices are less spatially coherent. An increase in the number of days with rainfall and heavy rainfall is found at several locations in the south. A decrease in the number of days with snowfall and heavy snowfall is observed in the western provinces, while an increase is found in the north. There is no evidence of significant changes in the annual highest 1-day rainfall and 1-day snowfall. The maximum number of consecutive dry days has decreased, mainly in the south.     

1961—2010年新丰县气候资源的变化特征

根据1961—2010年新丰气象站观测资料,采用线性趋势分析、滑动平均等方法,研究了近50年来新丰县气候资源的变化特征。结果表明,新丰气温呈变暖趋势,特别是21世纪以来升温明显,气温的变化不具有突变特征,冬季对气候变暖贡献最大;稳定≥10℃的活动积温呈增加趋势。降水为减少趋势且具有突变特征,突变点为1991年,降水减少明显;日照也呈减少趋势且在1989年存在突变。进一步分析,发现气候变暖导致春季和秋季干旱事件发生的频率增加;降水虽然呈减少趋势,但夏季的降水呈增加趋势,说明降水强度发生了变化,灾害造成的经济损失在增大。     

Observed changes in daily temperature and precipitation indices for southern Québec, 1960–2005

Abstract

Trends and variations in daily temperature and precipitation indices in southern Québec are examined for the period 1960–2005. The indices are based on daily temperature and daily precipitation which have been recently adjusted at 53 climatological stations. The adjustments were made for site relocation, changes in observing programs, known instrument changes and measurement program deficiencies. The results show that the surface air temperature has increased in southern Québec over 1960–2005. Significant warming is evident in the western, southern and central parts of the province but the increasing trends become smaller toward the east. The warming is greater during the winter although many significant increasing trends are found in the summer. The analysis of the temperature extremes strongly indicates the occurrence of more nights with extreme high temperatures in all seasons. The temperature indices also suggest an increase in the number of thaw/frost days during the winter (days with maximum temperature above 0°C and minimum temperature below 0°C), a decrease in the length of the frost season, an increase in the length of the growing season, a decrease in heating degree days and an increase in cooling degree days. The precipitation indices show an increase in the annual total rainfall although many stations indicate decreasing trends during the summer. The number of days with rain has increased over the region whereas the number of days with snow and the total snow amounts have decreased over the past 46 years.     

1961～2018年西北地区降水的变化特征

邻接青藏高原地区的中国西北地区是最大的欧亚干旱区,其降水变化对全球变化的响应和对干旱环境及其青藏高原气候变化都具有特殊的指示意义.基于1961～2018年中国西北地区144个站的逐日降水、逐月气温观测资料,分析了西北地区的降水变化特征及趋势.结果表明:(1)近60年以来,西北地区92％站点的年降水量呈现增加的趋势,只有...     

对喜马拉雅山脉中段6个台站的气候变化分析

利用喜马拉雅山脉中段南、北两侧6个气象站1971-2007年逐月气温、降水资料,分析了该地区气候变化趋势、异常及突变特征。结果表明：喜马拉雅山脉中段南、北两侧年、季平均气温均呈明显上升趋势,冬半年升温幅度大于夏半年。年及夏半年平均气温均为随年代升高趋势,而冬半年气温在20世纪80年代较70年代略偏低,90年代后又逐渐升高。21世纪前7 a升温最为显著,较20世纪70年代升高0.6～1.1℃。1997年该地区南侧年平均气温发生突变,突变后增温趋势更加明显。20世纪90年代末以来,异常偏暖年份出现的几率明显增加,且南侧多于北侧。喜马拉雅山脉中段北侧年及冬夏半年降水均呈增多趋势。南侧年和夏半年降水呈减少趋势,冬半年为增多趋势。降水异常出现在20世纪80、90年代,21世纪后降水出现异常的概率明显减少。近40 a,北侧气候具有暖湿化趋势;南侧冬半年与之类似,但夏半年及全年呈暖干化趋势。     

Factors favorable to frequent extreme precipitation in the upper Yangtze River Valley

Extreme precipitation events in the upper Yangtze River Valley (YRV) have recently become an increasingly important focus in China because they often cause droughts and floods. Unfortunately, little is known about the climate processes responsible for these events. This paper investigates factors favorable to frequent extreme precipitation events in the upper YRV. Our results reveal that a weakened South China Sea summer monsoon trough, intensified Eurasian-Pacific blocking highs, an intensified South Asian High, a southward subtropical westerly jet and an intensified Western North Pacific Subtropical High (WNPSH) increase atmospheric instability and enhance the convergence of moisture over the upper YRV, which result in more extreme precipitation events. The snow depth over the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP) in winter and sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) over three key regions in summer are important external forcing factors in the atmospheric circulation anomalies. Deep snow on the Tibetan Plateau in winter can weaken the subsequent East Asian summer monsoon circulation above by increasing the soil moisture content in summer and weakening the land–sea thermal contrast over East Asia. The positive SSTA in the western North Pacific may affect southwestward extension of the WNPSH and the blocking high over northeastern Asia by arousing the East Asian-Pacific pattern. The positive SSTA in the North Atlantic can affect extreme precipitation event frequency in the upper YRV via a wave train pattern along the westerly jet between the North Atlantic and East Asia. A tripolar pattern from west to east over the Indian Ocean can strengthen moisture transport by enhancing Somali cross-equatorial flow.     

Temperature and precipitation trends in Canada during the 20th century

Abstract

Trends in Canadian temperature and precipitation during the 20th century are analyzed using recently updated and adjusted station data. Six elements, maximum, minimum and mean temperatures along with diurnal temperature range (DTR), precipitation totals and ratio of snowfall to total precipitation are investigated. Anomalies from the 1961–1990 reference period were first obtained at individual stations, and were then used to generate gridded datasets for subsequent trend analyses. Trends were computed for 1900–1998 for southern Canada (south of 60°N), and separately for 1950–1998 for the entire country, due to insufficient data in the high arctic prior to the 1950s.

From 1900–1998, the annual mean temperature has increased between 0.5 and 1.5°C in the south. The warming is greater in minimum temperature than in maximum temperature in the first half of the century, resulting in a decrease of DTR. The greatest warming occurred in the west, with statistically significant increases mostly seen during spring and summer periods. Annual precipitation has also increased from 5% to 35% in southern Canada over the same period. In general, the ratio of snowfall to total precipitation has been increasing due mostly to the increase in winter precipitation which generally falls as snow and an increase of ratio in autumn. Negative trends were identified in some southern regions during spring. From 1950–1998, the pattern of temperature change is distinct: warming in the south and west and cooling in the northeast, with similar magnitudes in both maximum and minimum temperatures. This pattern is mostly evident in winter and spring. Across Canada, precipitation has increased by 5% to 35%, with significant negative trends found in southern regions during winter. Overall, the ratio of snowfall to total precipitation has increased, with significant negative trends occurring mostly in southern Canada during spring.

Indices of abnormal climate conditions are also examined. These indices were defined as areas of Canada for 1950–1998, or southern Canada for 1900–1998, with temperature or precipitation anomalies above the 66th or below the 34th percentiles in their relevant time series. These confirmed the above findings and showed that climate has been becoming gradually wetter and warmer in southern Canada throughout the entire century, and in all of Canada during the latter half of the century.     

近40年我国暴雨的年代际变化特征

利用1961～2000年全国610个测站逐日降水资料和暴雨定义, 分析我国近40年暴雨发生频率的年代际时空变化特征.分析结果表明, 我国夏季暴雨多发生在长江中下游、华南、四川中东部、黄淮地区和华北东部, 夏季暴雨发生频率具有明显的年代际变化, 且各地区暴雨的年代际变化有一定差异.分析结果还表明, 我国东部季风区夏季暴雨与洪涝的关系非常密切, 特别是90年代江淮流域暴雨对洪涝的贡献明显增大.作者还初步讨论了夏季暴雨发生频率年代际变化的气候背景, 指出: 70年代末开始的华北暴雨减少可能与赤道中、东太平洋海表面温度的年代际变化有关, 而90年代长江以南暴雨增多则可能与热带西太平洋偏东方向热对流的年代际变化有关.     

欧亚环流异常对中国夏季降水的影响及其预测研究

文中利用奇异值分解 (SVD)方法 ,分析了 5 0 0hPa环流与中国降水的耦合作用。结果表明 ,夏季高度场和降水场相互的空间分布与大气环流的遥相关型紧密联系 ,所对应的时间系数对夏季旱涝趋势有较好的表征能力。冬、春季高度场和夏季降水场的相互关系显示出与夏季相类似的遥相关分布型。利用高度场与降水场奇异值分解的结果及前期环流异常信息 ,可以为夏季降水趋势预测提供参考     

Recent Progress in Studies of Climate Change in China

An overview of basic research on climate change in recent years in China is presented. In the past 100 years in China, average annual mean surface air temperature (SAT) has increased at a rate ranging from 0.03℃ (10 yr)-1 to 0.12℃ (10 yr)-1 . This warming is more evident in northern China and is more significant in winter and spring. In the past 50 years in China, at least 27% of the average annual warming has been caused by urbanization. Overall, no significant trends have been detected in annual and/or summer precipitation in China on a whole for the past 100 years or 50 years. Both increases and decreases in frequencies of major extreme climate events have been observed for the past 50 years. The frequencies of extreme temperature events have generally displayed a consistent pattern of change across the country, while the frequencies of extreme precipitation events have shown only regionally and seasonally significant trends. The frequency of tropical cyclone landfall decreased slightly, but the frequency of sand/dust storms decreased significantly. Proxy records indicate that the annual mean SAT in the past a few decades is the highest in the past 400-500 years in China, but it may not have exceeded the highest level of the Medieval Warm Period (1000-1300 AD). Proxy records also indicate that droughts and floods in eastern China have been characterized by continuously abnormal rainfall periods, with the frequencies of extreme droughts and floods in the 20th century most likely being near the average levels of the past 2000 years. The attribution studies suggest that increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere are likely to be a main factor for the observed surface warming nationwide. The Yangtze River and Huaihe River basins underwent a cooling trend in summer over the past 50 years, which might have been caused by increased aerosol concentrations and cloud cover. However, natural climate variability might have been a main driver for the mean and extreme precipitation variations observed over the past century. Climate models generally perform well in simulating the variations of annual mean SAT in China. They have also been used to project future changes in SAT under varied GHG emission scenarios. Large uncertainties have remained in these model-based projections, however, especially for the projected trends of regional precipitation and extreme climate events.     

中国干旱半干旱区洪涝灾害的初步分析

中国干旱半干旱区的洪涝灾害是一个尚未引起人们重视的重大科学问题,这主要是因为干旱半干旱区对洪涝灾害的防范意识比较薄弱。而极端降水事件的次数、强度和持续时间与干旱半干旱区的洪涝灾害有密切联系,直接影响该区域洪涝灾害及其次生地质灾害的次数与严重程度。以干旱半干旱区的极端降水事件为切入点,分析了中国干旱半干旱区的极端降水事件次数和极端降水量的变化特征,旨在为干旱半干旱区的洪涝灾害研究提供科学依据。结果表明,进入21世纪以来,中国110°E以西的干旱半干旱区极端降水事件的日数有所增多,而110°E以东的区域日数都有所减少。干旱半干旱区极端降水量的变化也呈现出西增东减的分布,大部分干旱半干旱区的极端降水量变化占总降水量变化的40%以上,一部分地区能达到50%,甚至100%-200%。从季节变化来看,春季天山以北、新疆南部、甘肃敦煌和内蒙古包头以北地区极端降水量增加较多,夏季110°E以西的干旱半干旱区极端降水量均增大明显,秋季陕西榆林、内蒙古鄂尔多斯、包头和呼和浩特等地极端降水量增大较明显。     

全球变暖背景下江淮地区降水强度分布结构变化的特征分析

利用1961～2006年江淮地区80个站点的逐日降水资料,根据百分位数确定极端降水阈值的方法,比较了全球气候变暖背景下该区域降水强度的分布结构特征。结果表明,在全球气候典型暖异常的年份里,江淮地区极端降水日数占总降水日数的比重比冷年增加30%以上,极端降水总量的比重增加13%左右;而微量降水日数所占比重比冷年减少近60%,微量降水总量减少了80%,说明全球变暖后江淮地区降水强度分布结构呈现弱降水减少,强降水增多的显著两极分化特征,且该特征在江淮地区基本一致。冬、夏季对比表明,冬季的变化幅度比全年和夏季更大。可见全球变暖背景下未来江淮地区降水强度分布结构出现两极分化趋势可能性增加。     

1730年夏季黄淮地区暴雨极端事件研究

1730年（清雍正八年）7—8月,我国黄淮地区连续暴雨17 d,引起黄河、大运河和淮河暴涨、决堤的大范围洪涝灾害。这是小冰期中相对温暖时段气候背景下的极端气候事件。本文依据历史文献记载复原了1730年夏季暴雨时段的天气实况,绘制了暴雨区域图显示强降雨中心移动动态和水灾地域分布图,概述当年气候特点,指出暴雨事件与台风活动的关联。1730年是太阳活动周极小年的前3年、有重大火山活动,是极强的厄尔尼诺事件后的第2年。这些天气特点和背景条件与现代罕见的1975年河南“75?8暴雨”相似。     

新旧气候态的差异及其对江西气候业务的影响

利用1961—2022年江西74个气象站平均气温、最高气温、最低气温、降水量、相对湿度、平均风速和日照时数资料,对比分析了1991—2020年和1981—2010年新、旧气候态下气象要素差异,探讨气候平均值改变对气候影响评价和预测业务的影响。结果表明：新气候态下,江西省三类气温的年和季节平均值均上升,年降水量总体增加将弱化气温偏高、降水偏多的变化特征。年和季节平均风速距平山区减小而平原地区增大;年日照时数距平总体增加。极端高温年份减少,极端低温年份增多,其中平均气温和最低气温的极端高（低）温年发生概率的降幅（增幅）比最高气温更大。极端强降水年发生概率在赣西北、赣中大部、赣南西北部等地区夏季减少,赣南中南部地区冬季增大。全省历年极端日高温、低温和强降水事件发生站次总体减少。新、旧气候态的更替会对气候业务产生影响,如冬季气温偏冷的年份增加,偏暖的年份减少,需对冷、暖冬事件进行重新评估,夏季降水增多的变化特征减弱,将导致夏季降水预测量级和趋势发生改变。     

Cutoff low systems and their relevance to large-scale extreme precipitation in the European Alps

In this paper, we attempt to highlight the relevance of cutoff low systems (CoLs) to large-scale heavy precipitation events within the Alpine region which often lead to catastrophic flooding. The main results of this study are (1) a detailed climatology (1971–1999) of CoLs for the European region, (2) contribution of CoLs to extreme precipitation events in the European Alpine region, (3) identification of regions within the European Alps most affected by extreme precipitation caused by CoLs, and (4) identification of regions where presence of CoLs is related to extreme precipitation in the Alpine region. The findings of this paper suggest that CoLs have a significant correlation with extreme precipitation events and strongly influence the climate of the Alpine region. The total contribution of CoLs to large-scale heavy precipitation events ranges between 20 and 95 % and is most pronounced in the northern and eastern parts of the Alps. More than 80 % of the events occur in the summer season. The area around the Alps and West of Spain (over the Atlantic Ocean) is the most affected region. The location of the center of CoLs that affect the Alpine region most occur on the northern and southern sides of the Alpine ridge.