Observed changes of drought/wetness episodes in the Pearl River basin, China, using the standardized precipitation index and aridity index

Monthly precipitation data of 42 rain stations over the Pearl River basin for 1960–2005 were analyzed to classify anomalously wet and dry conditions by using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and aridity index (I) for the rainy season (April–September) and winter (December–February). Trends of the number of wet and dry months decided by SPI were detected with Mann-Kendall technique. Furthermore, we also investigated possible causes behind wet and dry variations by analyzing NCAR/NCEP reanalysis dataset. The results indicate that: (1) the Pearl River basin tends to be dryer in the rainy season and comes to be wetter in winter. However, different wetting and drying properties can be identified across the basin: west parts of the basin tend to be dryer; and southeast parts tend to be wetter; (2) the Pearl River basin is dominated by dry tendency in the rainy season and is further substantiated by aridity index (I) variations; and (3) water vapor flux, moisture content changes in the rainy season and winter indicate different influences of moisture changes on wet and dry conditions across the Pearl River basin. Increasing moisture content gives rise to an increasing number of wet months in winter. However, no fixed relationships can be observed between moisture content changes and number of wet months in the rainy season, indicating that more than one factor can influence the dry or wet conditions of the study region. The results of this paper will be helpful for basin-scale water resource management under the changing climate.     

干旱条件下吐鲁番盆地相对湿润指数变化特征分析

利用干旱条件下的吐鲁番盆地1981-2010年的逐月降水、气温资料,通过Thornthwaite方法计算潜在蒸散量确定气候相对湿润指数,并分析其时空变化特征;同时应用小波分析及Mann-Kendall法,对相对湿润指数进行突变和周期分析,结果表明：近30 a来,降水量呈非显著性的减少趋势,气温增暖趋势明显,倾向率为0.53益·（10 a）-1;在气候变暖的背景下,潜在蒸散量呈波动增加趋势,空间分布差异显著（P〈0.05）;相对湿润指数呈较弱的减小态势,气候总体趋于干旱化,表现为：鄯善最强,吐鲁番次之,托克逊相对较弱;相对湿润指数未出现显著的转折年份和突变时间区域;周期变化表现为较强的对称性,4～5a的变化周期一致性较好。研究区域内气温升高,降水减少,是导致气候干旱化趋势得以维持和加剧的重要因素。     

Atmospheric moisture budget and floods in the Yangtze River basin, China

In this paper, we explored the trends of the atmospheric moisture budget, precipitation, and streamflow in summer during 1961 to 2005 and possible correlations between them by using the linear regression method in the Yangtze River basin, China. The results indicate that: (1) increasing tendencies can be detected in the atmospheric moisture budget, precipitation and streamflow in the Yangtze River basin; however, the significant increasing trends occur only in the atmospheric moisture budget and precipitation in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin; (2) both the ratio of summer moisture budget to annual moisture budget and the ratio of summer precipitation to annual precipitation exhibit a significant increasing trend in the Yangtze River basin. The ratio of summer streamflow to annual streamflow is in a significant increasing trend in Hankou station. Significant increasing summer precipitation can be taken as the major controlling factor responsible for the higher probability of flood hazard occurrences in the Yangtze River basin. The consecutively increasing summer precipitation is largely due to the consistently increasing moisture budget; (3) the zonal geopotential height anomaly between 1991 and 2005 and 1961 and 1990 is higher from the south to the north, which to a large degree, limits the northward propagation of the summer monsoon to north China. As a result, the summer moisture budget increases in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin, which leads to more summer precipitation. This paper sheds light on the changing properties of precipitation and streamflow and possible underlying causes, which will be greatly helpful for better understanding of the changes of precipitation and streamflow in the Yangtze River basin.     

水文模式DHSVM与区域气候模式RegCM2/China嵌套模拟试验

本研究在改进水文 -土壤 -植被模式DHSVM ,用气候观测资料驱动DHSVM进行模拟试验的基础上 ,建立了区域气候模式RegCM2 /China与水文模式DHSVM的嵌套系统 ,将区域气候模式对中国和东亚地区控制试验 (目前气候情景 )和敏感性试验 (未来 2×CO2 气候情景 )结果用双线性插值方法降尺度 (downscaling)到滦河、桑干河流域的 8个气象站点 ,然后再用数字高程模式DEM插值到DHSVM的细网格点 ,驱动水文模式进行嵌套模拟试验。试验结果表明 ,滦河、桑干河流域在未来大气中CO2 浓度加倍情况下 ,地面气温呈一致的增加趋势 ,年平均气温增加2 .8℃ ;两流域未来降水也呈增加趋势 ,滦河、桑干河流域年降水量分别增加 6mm和 4 6mm ;两流域未来蒸发量有所增加 ,年均蒸发量增加 2 9mm ;未来滦河流域年径流深减少 2 7mm ,流量减少 14 .72× 10 8m3 ,桑干河流域径流深增加 2 6mm ,流量增加 12 .2 2× 10 8m3 ,两流域合计 ,流量减少 2 .5× 10 8m3 ;未来滦河、桑干河流域径流深趋向一致 ,分别为 74和 71mm ,约为全国目前平均径流深 2 84mm的 1/ 4。可见 ,两流域未来总体上仍呈现暖干化趋势。本研究发展的嵌套模式系统具有一定的预测能力 ,而且通过参数移植 ,可应用于中国其他流域     

Changes of atmospheric water vapor budget in the Pearl River basin and possible implications for hydrological cycle

In this study, we thoroughly analyzed abrupt behaviors, trends, and periodicity properties of water vapor flux and moisture budget entering and exiting the four edges of the Pearl River basin based on the NCAR/NCEP reanalysis dataset by using the continuous wavelet transform and the simple two-phase linear regression technique. Possible implications for hydrological cycle and water resource management of these changes are also discussed. The results indicate that: (1) the water vapor propagating through the four edges of the Pearl River basin is decreasing, and it is particularly true for the changes of the water vapor flux exiting from the north edge of the study river basin. The transition point from increase to decrease occurs in the early 1960s; (2) The wavelet transform spectra indicate that the monthly water vapor flux through the north edge decreases and this decrease is mainly reflected by intermittent distribution of the wavelet power spectra after early 1980s. The periodicity properties of the water vapor flux through the north edge imply that the northward propagation of water vapor flux decreases after the 1980s; (3) close relations between water vapor flux, precipitation and streamflow implies that the altered hydrological cycle in the Pearl River basin is mainly manifested by seasonal shifts of water vapor flux after early 1960s. One of the direct consequences of these changes of water vapor flux is the seasonal transition of wet and dry conditions across the Pearl River basin. Regional responses of hydrological cycle to climate variation/change could be different from one river basin to another. Hydrological responses of the Pearl River basin to the global warming are mainly demonstrated by seasonal shifts of precipitation changes: winter comes to be wetter and summer tends to be dryer. The finding of the seasonal transition of precipitation in the Pearl River basin is of great scientific and practical merits in basin scale water resource management in the Pearl River basin under the changing climate and global warming in particular.     

Annual and seasonal climate and climatic changes in the Canadian prairies simulated by the CCC GCM

Abstract

As part of a study on the effects of climatic variability and change on the sustainability of agriculture in Alberto, the modelling performance of the second‐generation Canadian Climate Centre GCM (general circulation model) is examined. For the region in general, the simulation of 1 × CO₂ mean temperature is generally better than that for mean precipitation, and summer is the season best modelled for each variable. At the scale of individual grid squares, DJF (December, January, February) (temperature) and JJA (June, July, August) (precipitation) are the seasons best modelled. The GCM‐simulated increases in mean annual temperature resulting from a doubling of CO₂ are of the order of 5 to 6°C in the Prairie region, with much of this increase resulting from substantial warming in the winter and spring. Increases in mean annual precipitation are of the order of 50 to 150 mm (changes of +5 to +15%), with the greatest changes again occurring in winter and spring. As far as the limited GCM run durations allow, temperature and precipitation variance generally show no significant changes from a 1 × CO₂ to a 2 × CO₂ climate. Increased precipitation in winter and spring does not result in greater snow accumulations owing to the magnitude of warming; and significant decreases in soil moisture content occur in summer and fall. The resulting effects on the growing season and moisture regime have the potential to affect agricultural practices in the area.     

作物生长对流域水文过程与区域气候的影响

利用区域气候模式RegCM3以及考虑作物生长过程的耦合模式RegCM3_CERES对东亚区域进行20年模拟,研究作物生长对流域水文过程与区域气候的影响。结果表明：考虑作物生长过程的耦合模式模拟海河流域、松花江流域、珠江流域多年平均降水效果明显改进,在除黑河流域外的各流域模拟的温度负偏差有所减小,其中在海河流域、淮河流域的夏季改进尤为明显。各流域夏季（6、7、8月）月蒸散量最高,其中长江流域、海河流域、淮河流域、珠江流域的夏季月蒸散量基本上在100 mm左右,并且七大流域蒸散发的季节变化趋势跟总降水基本一致。多数流域考虑作物生长过程的耦合模式模拟得出蒸散发减少且进入的水汽增加,导致局地水循环率减小;黑河流域与黄河流域降水有所增加,其他流域均有不同程度的减小。针对长江流域,比较耦合模式RegCM3_CERES与模式RegCM3模拟结果显示,叶面积指数减少1.20 m²/m²,根区土壤湿度增加0.01 m³/m³,进而导致潜热通量下降1.34 W/m²（其中在四川盆地地区减少16.00 W/m²左右）,感热通量增加2.04 W/m²,从而影响到降水和气温。     

Canadian vegetation sensitivity to projected climatic change at three organizational levels

The potential equilibrium response of Canadian vegetation under two doubled-CO₂ climatic scenarios was investigated at three levels in the vegetation mosaic using the rule-based, Canadian Climate-Vegetation Model (CCVM) and climatic response surfaces. The climatic parameters employed as model drivers (i.e., degree-days, minimum temperature, snowpack, actual evapotranspiration, and soil moisture deficit) have a more direct influence on the distribution of vegetation than those commonly used in equilibrium models. Under both scenarios, CCVM predicted reductions in the extent of the tundra and subarctic woodland formations, a northward shift and some expansion in the distributions of boreal and the temperate forest, and an expansion of the dry woodland and prairie formations that was especially pronounced under one of the scenarios. Results of the response surface analysis suggest the potential for significant changes in the probability of dominance for eight boreal tree species. A dissimilarity coefficient was used to identify forest-types under the future climatic scenarios that were analogous to boreal forest-types derived from cluster analysis of the current probabilities of species dominance. All of the current forest-types persisted under the doubled-CO₂ scenarios, but no-analog areas were also identified within which an empirically derived threshold of the distance coefficient was exceeded. Maps showing the highest level in the vegetation hierarchy where change was predicted suggest the relative impact of the response under the two climatic scenarios.     

Evaluation of climate change over the continental United States using a moisture index

This paper uses a modified form of Thornthwaite’s moisture index to better quantify climate variability by integrating the effects of temperature and precipitation. Using the moisture index, trends were evaluated over the last 112 years (1895–2006), when unique changes in temperature and precipitation have been documented to have occurred. In addition, data on potential evapotranspiration and the moisture index were used to investigate changing climate and vegetation regions. The results show that the eastern half of the country has been getting wetter, even as temperatures have continued to increase in many areas. In particular, conditions have become wetter in the South, Northeast, and East North Central regions. The changing climate is illustrated by computing climate and vegetation regions for three 30-year periods (1910–1939, 1940–1969, and 1970–1999). Climate regions based on the moisture index show an expansion of the Humid region (where precipitation vastly exceeds climatic demands for water) across the East as well as a westward shift in the zero moisture index line. In terms of vegetation zones, the most dramatic change occurs across the Midwestern prairie peninsula where the wetter conditions lead to a westward expansion of conditions favorable for oak–hickory–pine vegetation.     

Simulations of Water Resource Changes in Eastern and Central China in the Past 130 Years by a Regional Climate Model

Anthropogenic influences on regional climate and water resources over East Asia are simulated by using a regional model nested to a global model. The changes of land use/land cover (LULC) and CO₂ concentration are considered. The results show that variations of LULC and CO₂ concentration during the past 130 years caused a warming trend in many regions of East Asia. The most remarkable temperature increase occurred in Inner Mongolia, Northeast and North China, whereas temperature decreased in Gansu Province and north of Sichuan Province. LULC and CO₂ changes over the past 130 years resulted in a decreasing trend of precipitation in the Huaihe River valley, Shandong Byland, and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, but precipitation increased along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, and parts of South China. This pattern of precipitation change with changes in surface evapotranspiration may have caused a more severe drought in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the Huaihe River valley. The drought trend, however, weakened in the mid and upper reaches of the Yellow River valley, and the Yangtze River valley floods were increasing. In addition, changes in LULC and CO₂ concentration during the past 130 years led to adjustments in the East Asian monsoon circulation, which further affected water vapor transport and budget, making North China warm and dry, the Sichuan basin cold and wet, and East China warm and wet.     

Estimating the consequences of CO2-induced climatic change on north american grain agriculture using general circulation model information

A procedure to estimate the potential climatic effects of a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on agricultural production is illustrated. The method combines use of atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) and process-oriented crop models. Wheat and corn (maize) yields in three important North American grain cropping regions are treated. Combined use of these two types of models can provide insights into the impacts of climate changes at the level of plant physiology, and potential means by which agricultural production practices may adapt to these changes.Specific agronomic predictions are found to depend critically on the details of the projected climate change. Uncertainties in the specification of the doubled-CO₂ climate by the GCM, particularly with respect to precipitation, dictate that agricultural predictions derived from them at this time must be regarded only as illustrative of the impact assessment method.     

Evaluation of the Climatic Change Impacts on the Inland Lake – A Case Study of Lake Qinghai, China

A catchment model coupled with a lake thermal model has been used to simulate the lake water balance of Lake Qinghai, a large inland lake on the northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. The sensitivity analyses show that changes in precipitation will produce larger changes in runoff than temperature and cloudiness, whereas changes in lake level are equally sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation. With a doubling of CO₂ in the atmosphere, four GCMs experiments predict warmer and wetter conditions in the Qinghai region than at present. The total runoff in the lake basin and evaporation will, in most cases, increase as conditions become warmer and wetter. The lake level changes would remain uncertain because the effects of an increase in precipitation are countered by the rise of temperature.     

Estimated bioresource sensitivity to climatic change in Alberta,Canada

An index of dry-matter productivity is used to assess the sensitivity of bioresources in Alberta, western Canada, to changes in the thermal and precipitation regimes, particularly to climatic warming. Results suggest that warming would improve productivity in northern Alberta, but reduce it, because of the associated increased moisture stress, in the relatively warm, dry southeastern part of the province. Estimated productivity generally increased with precipitation regardless of location or temperature. Warming induced by CO₂ quadrupling would apparently give a net increase of about 18% in bioresource productivity for the province, and CO₂ doubling would lead to a 16% increase. However, the bioclimate would be changed much more than this might suggest. For CO₂ quadrupling, Alberta would acquire a thermal regime similar to that of present-day Nebraska, some 2,000 km to the southeast. Also, the increase in productivity of plants due to the effects of CO₂ on photosynthesis might be much larger than the climate-related effects. Climate impact assessment in Canada is made especially challenging by the shortness of the period of instrumental record, the relatively high degree of sensitivity to climatic change, and the sparseness of the station network, particularly in the most sensitive areas.     

Variations in climatic and hydrological parameters in the Selenga River basin in the Russian Federation

The variations in average annual surface air temperature, precipitation, and runoff in the Selenga River basin (within Russia) are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the considerable increase in average annual temperature of surface air layers occurred in the 1980s-1990s. The decrease in peak water discharge in the rivers and the increase in the frequency of low-water periods were revealed in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the Selenga River basin in 2001-2010. In the southwestern mountain regions (the Dzhida River basin) the river runoff increased during that period.     

Possible climatic impacts of tropical deforestation

Large-scale conversion of tropical forests into pastures or annual crops will likely lead to changes in the local microclimate of those regions. Larger diurnal fluctuations of surface temperature and humidity deficit, increased surface runoff during rainy periods and decreased runoff during the dry season, and decreased soil moistrue are to be expected.It is likely that evapotranspiration will be reduced because of less available radiative energy at the canopy level since grass presents a higher albedo than forests, also because of the reduced availability of soil moisture at the rooting zone primarily during the dry season. Recent results from general circulation model (GCM) simulations of Amazonian deforestation seem to suggest that the equilibrium climate for a grassy vegetation in Amazonia would be one in which regional precipitation would be significantly reduced.Global climate changes probably will occur if there is a marked change in rainfall patterns in tropical forest regions as a result of deforestation. Besides that, biomass burning of tropical forests is likely adding CO₂ into the atmosphere, thus contributing to the enhanced greenhouse warming.     

气候变化对澜湄流域上下游水资源合作潜力的影响

澜沧江-湄公河（澜湄）流域南北跨越了25个纬度,流域上下游气候差异明显。同时遭遇干旱或湿润通常不利于上下游水资源合作,而水文气象条件正常或上下游间的干湿条件不一样时有利于缓解流域内的竞争性用水状况。为探究气候变化对澜湄流域上下游水资源合作潜力的影响,基于普林斯顿降水数据集与全球气候模型预估数据,利用标准化降水指数（SPI）和Copula函数计算了历史时期（1985—2016年）与未来时期（2021—2090年）澜湄流域上下游同时面临干旱、湿润以及干湿存在差异的发生概率。基于典型浓度路径RCP4.5和RCP8.5情景的预估结果显示与历史时期相比,未来时期澜湄流域在RCP4.5与RCP8.5情景下具有相似的变化趋势,即：遭遇同期湿润的概率在逐渐增大（最大达到199.5%),遭遇同期干旱的概率则在逐渐减少(最小达到-35.9%),而遭遇干湿差异时期的概率在所有时段均大幅减少（-53.1%~-42.5%)。未来澜湄流域上下游同期湿润概率的增加和遭遇干湿差异概率的减少预计将加大上下游面临水资源竞争的可能性,从而对澜湄流域各国家之间的水资源合作产生不利影响。这一研究可以为澜湄流域水资源合作策略的制定提供科学参考和依据。     

人类活动排放的CO2及气溶胶对20世纪70年代末中国东部夏季降水年代际转折的影响

全球变暖背景下,中国东部夏季降水在20世纪70年代末开始较19世纪呈现东北及长江中、下游地区多雨,华北及华南少雨的特征。与此同时,人类活动排放的CO₂及气溶胶量也发生了明显的年代际变化。文中利用地球系统耦合模式（CESM）诊断了中国东部夏季的水分收支对人类活动排放的CO₂及气溶胶年代际变化的响应。发现CO₂排放量增加后,江淮流域的水汽辐合以及中国南方的水汽辐散主要是与质量辐散有关的动力项及与湿度梯度相关的热力项共同作用的结果,但动力作用更显著。气溶胶效应则主要通过动力作用使得江淮流域水汽辐合,而中国南方地区水汽辐散。虽然CO₂和气溶胶对辐射量及温度的影响差别很大,但通过改变温度梯度,热成风效应产生的动力作用都会导致江淮流域上升运动增强,降水增多;而中国南方下沉运动显著,降水减少,与观测结果一致,且CO₂相较于气溶胶的影响更为显著,证实了20世纪70年代末人类活动对中国东部夏季降水年代际转折的影响。      

雅鲁藏布江流域夏季降水的年际变化及其原因

本文通过多套观测与再分析降水资料的比较,分析了雅鲁藏布江流域夏季降水的特征,从水汽含量与水汽输送的角度检验了雅鲁藏布江水汽通道的特点,研究了流域夏季降水的年际变化及其原因。分析表明:（1）该流域夏季降水大值位于雅鲁藏布江出海口至大峡谷一带,观测中流域平均降水可达5.8 mm d-1。不同资料表现的降水空间分布一致,但再分析降水普遍强于观测,平均为观测的2倍左右。（2）该流域夏季的水汽主要来自印度洋和孟加拉湾的偏南暖湿水汽输送,自孟加拉湾出海口沿布拉马普特拉河上溯至大峡谷,即雅鲁藏布江水汽通道。水汽收支诊断表明,夏季流域南部（即水汽通道所在处）是水汽辐合中心,流域平均的辐合约9.5 mm d-1,主要来自风场辐合与地形坡度的贡献。（3）不同再分析资料表现的流域降水和水汽分布特征总体一致,但量值差异较大。NCEP（美国国家环境预报中心）气候预报系统再分析资料CFSR、日本气象厅再分析资料JRA-25较欧洲中期天气预报中心再分析ERA-Interim资料更适于研究该流域（青藏高原东南部）的水汽特征,因为后者给出的流域降水和水汽偏强。（4）近30年该流域夏季降水无显著趋势,以年际变率为主。年际异常的水汽辐合（约为气候态的35.4%）源自异常西南风导致的局地水汽辐合（纬向、经向辐合分别贡献了16.5%、83.5%）,地形作用很小。流域夏季降水的年际变化是由印度夏季风活动导致的异常水汽输送造成的,其关键系统是印度季风区北部的异常气旋（反气旋）式水汽输送。     

江苏省近50a气候干湿特征研究

根据江苏省1960—2009年54个气象台站常规气象观测资料,利用Penman-Monteith公式计算了全省各地区50 a的逐日潜在蒸散量,结合逐日降水量,推算出了相对湿润度指数值,并采用国家标准《气象干旱等级》(GB/T20481-2006)中的相对湿润度分级指标对全省干湿状况进行了评估,分析其时空变化特征。研究表明:1)就全年而言,江苏省半干旱区与湿润区各占50%左右的面积,其中淮北、江淮北部、苏北沿海的北部为半干旱区,江淮南部、苏北沿海的南部、沿江、苏南地区为湿润区;2)降水量和潜在蒸散量是影响相对湿润度指数的两个关键因子,降水量的变化对相对湿润度的时空分布起着主导作用,潜在蒸散量起着辅助作用。3)江苏省1 a中冬季的南北气候干湿反差最大、夏季最小,湿润区范围夏季最大、秋季最小,半干旱区范围秋季最大、夏季没有,干旱区范围春季最大、夏季和秋季没有。夏季气候最湿润、春季气候最干燥。4)淮北和苏北沿海地区的相对湿润度指数年变化呈"单峰型",江淮、沿江和苏南地区的年变化呈"双峰型",苏北沿海地区相对湿润度年内变化最大,沿江地区最小。     

Prediction of Changes in Soil Moisture Associated with Climatic Changes and Their Implications for Vegetation Changes: Waves Model Simulation on Taihang Mountain, China

The WAVES model was used to simulate the effect of global warming on soil moisture on the semi-arid Taihang Mountain in China. Parameters of the WAVES model were first adjusted according to soil moisture data from a field global warming experiment. Then, the reliability of WAVES in predicting soil moisture changes induced by climatic change was confirmed by comparing the simulated and observed soil moisture values under different climatic conditions and plant growth rates of another field treatment. Next, 10 climate change scenarios incorporating increases in temperature and changes in precipitation were designed. When a simulation was conducted using the leaf area index (LAI) growth pattern from a field experiment under the present climatic conditions, the results suggested that the combination of temperature increase and precipitation decrease would greatly decrease soil water content throughout the entire simulation period. On the other hand, only when precipitation increased by 20% and temperatureincreased by 2 °C, the effect of precipitation increase on soil moisture was obviously positive. Although soil moisture conditions in the T2P1 (temperature increase by 2 °C and precipitation increase by 10%) and T4P2 (temperature increase by 4 °C and precipitation increase by 20%) scenarios were slightly better during the rainy season and notmuch changed before the rainy season, the positive effect of 10%precipitation increase on soil moisture was totally offset by moisture decrease caused bya 4 °C temperature increase in the T4P1 scenario. At the same time, the trends of soil-moisture change were highly coincident with predicted changes in productivity. Finally, the predicted LAI values from other studies were combined with the climatic change scenarios and used in the simulation. The results showed that changes in LAI alleviated, at least to some extent, the effects of temperature and precipitation changes on soil moisture.