Premium
Spatiotemporal variation of temperature, precipitation and wind trends in a desertification prone region of China from 1960 to 2013
Author(s) -
Shi Zhongjie,
Shan Nan,
Xu Lihong,
Yang Xiaohui,
Gao Jixi,
Guo Hao,
Zhang Xiao,
Song Aiyun,
Dong Linshui
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.4635
Subject(s) - desertification , environmental science , precipitation , climatology , wind speed , china , monsoon , climate change , physical geography , geography , meteorology , geology , ecology , archaeology , biology , oceanography
Spatial and temporal distributions of temperature, precipitation and wind speed from 1960 to 2013 at 179 meteorological stations situated in the desertification prone region ( DPR ) of China are analysed using the Mann–Kendall test and the Theil–Sen's slope estimator on monthly, seasonal and annual timescales. The results indicate that annual mean temperature has increased at a rate of 0.33 °C (10 year) −1 over the DPR . T min generally increased at a higher rate than T max in the majority of the months and seasons over the past 54 years; this has resulted in a decrease in the diurnal temperature range. Precipitation increased for the majority of the meteorological stations in the western area of the DPR , and decreased in the eastern area, but few of these trends are statistically significant on all timescales. The majority of meteorological stations recorded a significant decrease in wind speed at the majority of timescales. Results from this investigation show that the climate is becoming warmer and wetter in the western area of the DPR , and warmer and drier in eastern area of the DPR . A greater understanding of how the historical climate has been changing enables scientific support for the adaption of mitigation policies for land desertification/degradation, water resources, ecological projects and agricultural production. These policies will aid in combating the desertification processes, maintaining ecological security and promoting sustainable development in the DPR .