Validation of Column-Averaged Dry-Air Mole Fraction of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Retrieved from OCO-2 Using Ground-Based FTS Measurements

In order to correctly use the column-averaged atmospheric CO₂ dry-air mole fraction (XCO₂) data in the CO₂ flux studies, XCO₂ measurements retrieved from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) in 2015 were compared with those obtained from the global ground-based high-resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) participating in the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). The XCO₂ retrieved from three observing modes adopted by OCO-2, i.e., nadir, target, and glint, were separately validated by the FTS measurements at up to eight TCCON stations located in different areas. These comparisons show that OCO-2 glint mode yields the best qualitative estimations of CO₂ concentration among the three operational approaches. The overall results regarding the glint mode show no obvious systematic biases. These facts may indicate that the glint concept is appropriate for not only oceans but also land regions. Negative systematic biases in nadir and target modes have been found at most TCCON sites. The standard deviations of XCO₂ retrieved from target and nadir modes within the observation period are similar, and larger than those from glint mode. We also used the FTS site in Beijing, China, to assess the OCO-2 XCO₂ in 2016. This site is located in a typical urban area, which has been absent in previous studies. Overall, OCO-2 XCO₂ agrees well with that from FTS at this site. Such a study will benefit the validation of the newly launched TanSat products in China.     

A New TanSat XCO_2 Global Product towards Climate Studies

The 1st Chinese carbon dioxide(CO2)monitoring satellite mission,TanSat,was launched in 2016.The 1st TanSat global map of CO2 dry-air mixing ratio(XCO2)measurements over land was released as version 1 data product with an accuracy of 2.11 ppmv(parts per million by volume).In this paper,we introduce a new(version 2)TanSat global XCO2 product that is approached by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics Carbon dioxide retrieval Algorithm for Satellite remote sensing(IAPCAS),and the European Space Agency(ESA)Climate Change Initiative plus(CCI+)TanSat XCO2 product by University of Leicester Full Physics(UoL-FP)retrieval algorithm.The correction of the measurement spectrum improves the accuracy(?0.08 ppmv)and precision(1.47 ppmv)of the new retrieval,which provides opportunity for further application in global carbon flux studies in the future.Inter-comparison between the two retrievals indicates a good agreement,with a standard deviation of 1.28 ppmv and a bias of?0.35 ppmv.     

Optimization of the OCO-2 Cloud Screening Algorithm and Evaluation against MODIS and TCCON Measurements over Land Surfaces in Europe and Japan

A method to tighten the cloud screening thresholds based on local conditions is used to provide more stringent schemes for Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2(OCO-2) cloud screening algorithms. Cloud screening strategies are essential to remove scenes with significant cloud and/or aerosol contamination from OCO-2 observations, which helps to save on the data processing cost and ensure high quality retrievals of the column-averaged CO₂ dry air mole fraction(XCO₂). Based on the rad...     

Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Atmospheric CO2 in East China Based on Data from Three Satellites

East China(23.6°–38.4°N, 113.6°–122.9°E) is the largest developed region in China. Based on CO₂ products retrieved from the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite(GOSAT), the spatial and temporal distributions of CO₂ mixing ratios in East China during 2014–17 are discussed, and the retrieved CO₂ from AIRS(Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) and OCO-2(Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2), as well as WLG(Waliguan) background station observations, are compared with those of GOSAT...     

A differential optical absorption spectroscopy method for {X_{CO_2}} retrieval from ground-based Fourier transform spectrometers measurements of the direct solar beam

A differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS)-like algorithm is developed to retrieve the column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of carbon dioxide from ground-based hyper-spectral measurements of the direct solar beam. Different to the spectral fitting method, which minimizes the difference between the observed and simulated spectra, the ratios of multiple channel-pairs——one weak and one strong absorption channel——are used to retrieve X CO2 from measurements of the shortwave infrared (SWIR) band. Based on sensitivity tests, a super channel-pair is carefully selected to reduce the effects of solar lines, water vapor, air temperature, pressure, instrument noise, and frequency shift on retrieval errors. The new algorithm reduces computational cost and the retrievals are less sensitive to temperature and H2O uncertainty than the spectral fitting method. Multi-day Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) measurements under clear-sky conditions at two sites (Tsukuba and Bremen) are used to derive X CO2 for the algorithm evaluation and validation. The DOAS-like results agree very well with those of the TCCON algorithm after correction of an airmass-dependent bias.     

The First Global Carbon Dioxide Flux Map Derived from TanSat Measurements

Space-borne measurements of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations provide global observation constraints for top-down estimates of surface carbon flux.Here,the first estimates of the global distribution of carbon surface fluxes inferred from dry-air CO_2 column (XCO_2) measurements by the Chinese Global Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Scientific Experimental Satellite (Tan Sat) are presented.An ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) data assimilation system coupled with the GEOS-Chem global chemistry transport model is used to optimally fit model simulations with the Tan Sat XCO_2 observations,which were retrieved using the Institute of Atmospheric Physics Carbon dioxide retrieval Algorithm for Satellite remote sensing (IAPCAS).High posterior error reduction (30%–50%) compared with a priori fluxes indicates that assimilating satellite XCO_2 measurements provides highly effective constraints on global carbon flux estimation.Their impacts are also highlighted by significant spatiotemporal shifts in flux patterns over regions critical to the global carbon budget,such as tropical South America and China.An integrated global land carbon net flux of 6.71±0.76 Gt C yr~(-1) over12 months (May 2017–April 2018) is estimated from the Tan Sat XCO_2 data,which is generally consistent with other inversions based on satellite data,such as the JAXA GOSAT and NASA OCO-2 XCO_2 retrievals.However,discrepancies were found in some regional flux estimates,particularly over the Southern Hemisphere,where there may still be uncorrected bias between satellite measurements due to the lack of independent reference observations.The results of this study provide the groundwork for further studies using current or future Tan Sat XCO_2 data together with other surfacebased and space-borne measurements to quantify biosphere–atmosphere carbon exchange.     

卫星高光谱大气CO2遥感反演精度地基验证研究

利用TCCON网站提供的北半球7个地面观测站CO₂干空气混合比（XCO₂）数据,对3种卫星反演的XCO₂产品进行了验证,包括SCIAMACHY产品、NIES-GOSAT产品和ACOS-GOSAT产品。结果表明：卫星CO₂遥感反演产品与地基遥感资料具有较一致的季节性周期变化,一年中月平均浓度最高值均出现在4月和5月,最低值均出现在8月和9月;相对于地面观测,3种卫星产品均低估了XCO₂;ACOS-GOSAT产品与NIES-GOSAT产品的精度大体相当,误差标准差分别为2.26×10^-6和2.27×10^-6;SCIAMACHY产品的精度略差,误差标准差为2.91×10^-6。     

华北平原固城站NO2对流层柱浓度变化特征

基于2008年9月—2010年9月河北固城生态与农业气象试验站多轴差分吸收光谱仪 (multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy, MAX-DOAS) 获得的太阳散射光谱观测,反演计算该地区NO₂对流层柱浓度,分析其季节、日变化特征以及不同来源输送的影响,并与同期NO₂地面观测资料和卫星产品进行对比分析。发现固城站NO₂对流层柱浓度冬高 (5.14×1016 cm-2) 夏低 (1.28×1016 cm-2);日变化形态在四季均呈现中午低、傍晚高的特征,且冬季最明显。与北京城市区域同期的观测相比,冬季固城站观测值略低,而在春、夏季则偏低较显著。地面风玫瑰图分析显示,来自SW, SSW, NE方向及ENE方向的污染输送对其贡献最大。与地面、卫星NO₂观测的对比表明,MAX-DOAS反演的NO₂柱浓度与地面观测浓度具有一致的季节和日变化特征,卫星反演的NO₂对流层柱浓度产品在华北平原农村地区存在系统性低估。     

Simulation of Non-Homogeneous CO_2 and Its Impact on Regional Temperature in East Asia

Carbon dioxide(CO_2) is an important greenhouse gas that influences regional climate through disturbing the earth's energy balance. The CO_2 concentrations are usually prescribed homogenously in most climate models and the spatiotemporal variations of CO_2 are neglected. To address this issue,a regional climate model(RegCM4) is modified to investigate the non-homogeneous distribution of CO_2 and its effects on regional longwave radiation flux and temperature in East Asia. One-year simulation is performed with prescribed surface CO_2 fluxes that include fossil fuel emission, biomass burning, air-sea exchange, and terrestrial biosphere flux. Two numerical experiments(one using constant prescribed CO_2 concentrations in the radiation scheme and the other using the simulated CO_2 concentrations that are spatially non-homogeneous) are conducted to assess the impact of non-homogeneous CO_2 on the regional longwave radiation flux and temperature. Comparison of CO_2 concentrations from the model with the observations from the GLOBALVIEW-CO_2 network suggests that the model can well capture the spatiotemporal patterns of CO_2 concentrations. Generally, high CO_2 mixing ratios appear in the heavily industrialized eastern China in cold seasons, which probably relates to intensive human activities. The accommodation of non-homogeneous CO_2 concentrations in the radiative transfer scheme leads to an annual mean change of -0.12 W m~(-2) in total sky surface upward longwave flux in East Asia. The experiment with non-homogeneous CO_2 tends to yield a warmer lower troposphere.Surface temperature exhibits a maximum difference in summertime, ranging from -4.18 K to 3.88 K, when compared to its homogeneous counterpart. Our results indicate that the spatial and temporal distributions of CO_2 have a considerable impact on regional longwave radiation flux and temperature, and should be taken into account in future climate modeling.     

A Ka-band Solid-state Transmitter Cloud Radar and Data Merging Algorithm for Its Measurements

This study concerns a Ka-band solid-state transmitter cloud radar, made in China, which can operate in three different work modes, with different pulse widths, and coherent and incoherent integration numbers, to meet the requirements for cloud remote sensing over the Tibetan Plateau. Specifically, the design of the three operational modes of the radar(i.e., boundary mode M1, cirrus mode M2, and precipitation mode M3) is introduced. Also, a cloud radar data merging algorithm for the three modes is proposed. Using one month's continuous measurements during summertime at Naqu on the Tibetan Plateau,we analyzed the consistency between the cloud radar measurements of the three modes. The number of occurrences of radar detections of hydrometeors and the percentage contributions of the different modes' data to the merged data were estimated.The performance of the merging algorithm was evaluated. The results indicated that the minimum detectable reflectivity for each mode was consistent with theoretical results. Merged data provided measurements with a minimum reflectivity of -35 dBZ at the height of 5 km, and obtained information above the height of 0.2 km. Measurements of radial velocity by the three operational modes agreed very well, and systematic errors in measurements of reflectivity were less than 2 dB. However,large discrepancies existed in the measurements of the linear depolarization ratio taken from the different operational modes.The percentage of radar detections of hydrometeors in mid- and high-level clouds increased by 60% through application of pulse compression techniques. In conclusion, the merged data are appropriate for cloud and precipitation studies over the Tibetan Plateau.     

放牧强度对内蒙古半干旱草原地气间能量和物质交换的影响

利用涡度相关技术, 于2006年7月27日至8月10日在内蒙古半干旱草原三种放牧强度的下垫面进行微气象观测。本文分析了放牧强度对内蒙古半干旱草原地气间能量和物质交换的影响, 发现: (1)放牧降低植被覆盖率, 使地表反射率增大。(2)放牧使潜热通量减小。而放牧强度最大的锡林河河道潜热通量最大,表明土壤水分状况是半干旱草原地表能量收支的决定性因素。(3)羊草和冬季放牧观测点日平均CO2通量分别为-1.92 g?m-2?d-1和0.73 g?m-2?d-1, 表明放牧可以使草地由CO2的汇转变为源。锡林河河道为CO2的汇, 日平均CO2通量-3.35 g?m-2?d-1, 与羊草比较, 锡林河河道吸收CO2更多, 表明土壤湿度是影响半干旱草原CO2通量交换的重要因素。(4) 放牧通过减小叶面积指数, 减弱植被的光合作用能力。     

A SPATIAL-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS STUDY ON THE ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE OBSERVED BY GOSAT SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

The variation of the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2) concentration plays an important role in global climate and agriculture. We analyzed the spatial-temporal characteristics of CO2 in the China region and around the globe with the CO2 column mixing ratios observed by the Japanese GOSAT satellite (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite). In order to make sure that the accuracy of the CO2 data retrieved by the satellite meets the needs of the climate characteristics analyses, we ran a validation on the CO2 column mixing ratios retrieved by the satellite against the ground-based TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) observation data. The result shows that the two sets of data have a correlation coefficient of higher than 0.7, and a bias of within 2.2 ppmv. Therefore, the GOSAT CO2 data can be used for the climate characteristics analysis of global CO2. Our analysis on the spatial-temporal characteristics of the CO2 column mixing ratios observed during the period of June 2009 through January 2014 proved that, with the impact of the natural emission of near ground CO2 and human activities, the global CO2 concentration has a significant latitudinal characteristics with its highest level averaging 390 ppmv in the 0-40oN latitudinal zone in the Northern Hemisphere, and 387 ppmv in the Southern Hemisphere. China has a relatively higher CO2 concentration with the highest level exceeding 398 ppmv, and the eastern area higher than the western area. The variation of global CO2 concentration shows a seasonal pattern, i.e. the CO2 concentration reaches its highest in spring in the Northern Hemisphere averaging more than 392 ppmv, second highest in winter, and lowest in summer averaging less than 387 ppmv. It fluctuates the most in the Northern Hemisphere with an average concentration of 392.5 ppmv in April, and 385.5 ppmv in July. While in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasonal fluctuation is smaller with the highest concentration occurring in July. Over the recent years, the global CO2 concentration has shown an elevating trend with an average annual increase rate of 1.58 ppmv per year. It is a challenge that the human kind has to face to slow down the increase of the CO2 concentration.     

利用探空资料验证GOME卫星臭氧数据

利用1996年3月-2003年6月部分时段拉萨、西宁、北京3个站的臭氧探空资料验证了GOME（Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment）卫星臭氧廓线及对流层臭氧柱总量。对比结果表明:在对流层中下层,拉萨和西宁两地GOME与探空的平均偏差小于5%,北京地区平均偏差小于10%;在对流层上层/平流层下层,拉萨和西宁平均偏差小于10%,北京小于20%;在平流层中上层3个站的平均偏差均小于5%。在对流层上层/平流层下层区域,GOME与臭氧探空的平均偏差在北京明显高于拉萨和西宁。3个地区对流层柱总量的平均偏差都在10%以内,表明该资料可用于研究我国对流层臭氧总量的变化规律。同时段的GOME最低层（0~2.5km）月平均臭氧浓度对比结果显示,GOME结果同地面臭氧观测值有很好的相关性,GOME臭氧浓度反映了拉萨、瓦里关、临安地面臭氧浓度的主要变化特征。     

LI-8100开路式土壤碳通量测量系统及其应用

在介绍土壤呼吸测量方法的基础上,介绍了最新LI-8100开路式土壤碳通量测量系统的组成、主要特点、测量原理、典型的测量过程、数据输出等。实验结果表明：LI-8100开路式土壤碳通量测量系统,具有测量精确、自动化程度高、可进行长期的野外测量和可重复的短期测量、测量室内部的扰乱最小化、在周围CO2浓度或接近周围CO2浓度下进行测量等特点,在全球碳循环的研究中必将具有广泛的应用前景。     

温带森林土壤溶液溶解性N2O和CO2含量特征及其影响机制

利用陶瓷头土壤溶液收集器采集2006年7月～2007年8月问长白山阔叶红松天然林不同深度(15cm和60 cm)土壤溶液,探讨应用气液萃取平衡-气相色谱法测定森林土壤溶液中溶解性气体N_2O和CO_2浓度的可行性,并利用此方法研究林地不同深度土壤溶液中两种气体含量特征及其影响机理.研究结果显示观测期内林地15 cm和60 cm深度土壤溶液中溶解性CO_2浓度的变化范围分别为5.26～10.71μg·mL~(-1)(C)和3.13～6.16 μg·mL~(-1)(C),溶解性N_2O浓度的变化范围分别为2.44～13.40 ng·mL~(-1)(N)和3.23～27.98 ng·mL~(-1)(N).阔叶红松天然林土壤溶液中溶解性CO_2和N_2O浓度均呈现出明显的季节性变化.春融后的降水促进了土壤溶液中溶解性N_2O产生,尤其在60 cm深度.与60 cm深度相比,林地15 cm深度溶液中溶解性CO_2浓度的季节性变化更明显,尤其在植物生长旺季.逐步回归分析显示,水溶性有机碳含量可以解释林地不同深度溶液中溶解性CO_2浓度变化的29%;水溶性有机氮含量可以解释林地60 cm深度溶解性N_2O浓度变化的34%.因此,水溶性有机碳和有机氮分别是长白山阔叶红松林土壤溶液溶解性CO_2和N_2O形成的重要因子.同时研究结果表明本文实验方法对于测定林地不同深度土壤溶液中溶解性N_2O和CO_2含量均有较好的适用性,连续三次萃取后所获得的气体浓度可有效反映溶液中的实际气体浓度.     

Constraining anthropogenic CH4 emissions in Nanjing and the Yangtze River Delta,China, using atmospheric CO2 and CH4 mixing ratios

Methane （CH4） emissions estimated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC） inventory method at the city and regional scale are subject to large uncertainties.In this study,we determined the CH4：CO2 emissions ratio for both Nanjing and the Yangtze River Delta （YRD）,using the atmospheric CH4 and CO2 concentrations measured at a suburban site in Nanjing in the winter.The atmospheric estimate of the CH4：CO2 emissions ratio was in reasonable agreement with that calculated using the IPCC method for the YRD （within 20％）,but was 200％ greater for the municipality of Nanjing.The most likely reason for the discrepancy is that emissions from unmanaged landfills are omitted from the official statistics on garbage production.     

Long-term Stability and Oceanic Mean State Simulated by the Coupled Model FGOALS-s2

We describe the long-term stability and mean climatology of oceanic circulations simulated by version 2 of the Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System model(FGOALS-s2).Driven by pre-industrial forcing,the integration of FGOALS-s2 was found to have remained stable,with no obvious climate drift over 600 model years.The linear trends of sea SST and sea surface salinity(SSS) were 0.04°C(100yr)-1 and 0.01 psu(100yr)-1,respectively.The simulations of oceanic temperatures,wind-driven circulation and thermohaline circulation in FGOALS-s2 were found to be comparable with observations,and have been substantially improved over previous FGOALS-s versions(1.0 and 1.1).However,significant SST biases(exceeding 3°C) were found around strong western boundary currents,in the East China Sea,the Sea of Japan and the Barents Sea.Along the eastern coasts in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean,a warm bias(>3°C) was mainly due to overestimation of net surface shortwave radiation and weak oceanic upwelling.The difference of SST biases in the North Atlantic and Pacific was partly due to the errors of meridional heat transport.For SSS,biases exceeding 1.5 psu were located in the Arctic Ocean and around the Gulf Stream.In the tropics,freshwater biases dominated and were mainly caused by the excess of precipitation.Regarding the vertical dimension,the maximal biases of temperature and salinity were located north of 65°N at depths of greater than 600 m,and their values exceeded 4°C and 2 psu,respectively.     

BCC_CSM模式对热带降水年循环模态的模拟

本文评估了国家气候中心发展的两个不同分辨率海—陆—气—冰多圈层耦合气候系统模式BCC_CSM1.1和BCC_CSM1.1 (m) 对热带降水两个年循环模态——揭示降水冬夏季节差异的季风模态和揭示过渡季节春季和秋季非对称特征的春秋非对称模态的模拟能力,讨论了模拟偏差产生的可能原因。分析结果表明,BCC_CSM1.1和BCC_CSM1.1 (m) 均能合理再现全球年平均降水的基本分布特征,也能较合理再现热带降水年循环模态的基本分布特征,尤其季风模态中降水与环流关于赤道反对称的特征;能够较合理再现春秋非对称模态与热带海洋表面温度(SST)年循环之间的关系。大气温度场、环流场以及热带SST的模拟偏差对降水季风模态有影响;热带SST年循环的偏差对降水春秋非对称模态的模拟偏差有贡献;模式分辨率对降水年循环模态的模拟也有一定影响。对比分析显示,大气模式和陆面模式水平分辨率提高之后模式在某些模拟性能上有所提高,这表现在:BCC_CSM1.1 (m) 模拟的1～12月降水气候态的空间变率更接近观测;热带海表温度年循环总体上更接近观测;模拟的热带降水年循环模态的部分特征更合理。但BCC_CSM1.1 (m) 的模拟结果相对观测仍存在较大偏差,有待进一步改进。     

Latitudinal and Scan-dependent Biases of Microwave Humidity Sounder Measurements and Their Dependences on Cloud Ice Water Path

The relationship between differences in microwave humidity sounder(MHS)–channel biases which represent measured brightness temperatures and model-simulated brightness temperatures, and cloud ice water path(IWP) as well as the influence of the cloud liquid water path(LWP) on the relationship is examined. Seven years(2011–17) of NOAA-18 MHS-derived measured brightness temperatures and IWP/LWP data generated by the NOAA Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System are used. The Community Radiative Transfer Model, version2.2.4, is used to simulate model-simulated brightness temperatures using European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis data as background fields. Scan-angle deviations of the MHS window channel biases range from-1.7 K to1.0 K. The relationships between channels 2, 4, and 5 biases and scan angle are symmetrical about the nadir. The latitudedependent deviations of MHS window channel biases are positive and range from 0–7 K. For MHS non-window channels,the latitudinal deviations between measured brightness temperatures and model-simulated brightness temperatures are larger when the detection height is higher. No systematic warm or cold deviations are found in the global spatial distribution of difference between measured brightness temperatures and model-simulated brightness temperatures over oceans after removing scan-angle and latitudinal deviations. The corrected biases of five different MHS channels decrease differently with respect to the increase in IWP. This decrease is stronger when LWP values are higher.     

Temporal and spatial variability of dryness/wetness in China during the last 530 years

Summary The main characteristics of spatial and temporal variability of dryness and wetness during the last 530 years (1470–1999) are classified over five centuries. They have been investigated by using 100-site dryness/wetness index data that has recorded the historical weather conditions that affect agriculture and living conditions in eastern China. A set of principal modes of spatial variability and time coefficient series describing the dominant temporal variability are extracted by a diagnostic method, the rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis. The long-term precipitation around Beijing, north China and the long-term runoffs in the middle Yangtze River are used to confirm the dry/wet variability in north China and the mid-low Yangtze River over the last two centuries.When considering the data from the last 530 years as a whole, the first two modes of dryness/wetness variability are found in the mid to low sections of two major valleys in eastern China, the Yellow and Yangtze River valleys. These valleys experienced the largest dryness/wetness variability in the history of eastern China. The third and fourth modes are located in northwest and northeast China. The fifth and sixth modes are situated in south and southwest China. However, over the last 500 years the strength and location of principal modes have experienced significant changes. During the 20th century, the first mode is found in the lower Yangtze River valley, the second mode in south China while the third mode is located in the mid-low Yellow River valley. During the 19^th century, the first three modes are situated in the mid-low Yellow River, the mid-low Yangtze River and south China, respectively. The first two modes in the 18^th century are located in the mid-low Yellow River and the mid-low Yangtze River valleys. The largest change of all modes occurred in the 17^th century with the first mode in northeast China, the second mode in northwest China, and the third mode in the mid-low Yangtze River valley. During the 16^th century, the first two modes are found in the mid-low Yangtze River and the mid-low Yellow River valleys.In each of the last five centuries, some special dryness/wetness processes are characterized in the mid-low Yangtze River and the mid-low Yellow River (north China). During the 20^th century, continuous and severe wetness is experienced in the mid-low Yangtze River in the last two decades. A two-decade wetness period in north China was followed by a severe dry period in the late 19^th century. Inter-annual variability, decade and two-decade oscillations of dryness/wetness are experienced in the series of different modes from one century to another. Dry/wet variations in north China and the middle Yangtze River are confirmed by series of data on local precipitation and runoff.