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Spatial distribution of the extreme hydrological events in Xinjiang, north-west of China

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Abstract

We examined spatial distribution characteristics of extreme hydrological events in Xinjiang, China, using district data from 1901 to 2010. Frequency distribution showed a general symmetry along the Tianshan Mountains, with even distribution in Junggar Basin and Tarim Basin. Frequency was more in the north-west than in the south-east. The maximum incidence was in west Tianshan Mountains and generally decreased south-eastward. There were significant regional variations in type distribution. Rainstorm floods were more common in central Xinjiang. Hailstorms mainly occurred in the central Junggar Basin, the southern slope of the western Tianshan Mountains and north-west of Tarim Basin. Debris flow was mainly distributed in Ili Valley and the central northern Tianshan Mountains. Glacier lake outburst floods were more common in the Karakorum Mountains and southern slopes of the western Tianshan Mountains. Ice floods were mainly distributed in the western Tianshan Mountains. Snow hazards were mainly distributed in the wide northern areas, especially the Altai Mountains and Hamilton Basin. Snowmelt floods were mainly distributed in the Tacheng Basin and Ili Valley. The incidence of extreme hydrological events was greatly affected by weather systems and terrain features.

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Notes

  1. Internal data from the Flood Control and Drought Relief Office.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Natural Sciences Foundation of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2010CB951003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry and Horticulture Department, Xinjiang Agriculture University, Xinjiang, 830052, China

    Guili Sun, Cunde Pan & Jiang Li

  2. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences China, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830011, China

    Yaning Chen & Weihong Li

  3. School of Geographic Science and Tourism, Normal University of Xinjiang, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830054, China

    Yuhui Yang

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  1. Guili Sun
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  2. Yaning Chen
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  3. Weihong Li
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  4. Cunde Pan
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  5. Jiang Li
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Correspondence to Guili Sun.

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Sun, G., Chen, Y., Li, W. et al. Spatial distribution of the extreme hydrological events in Xinjiang, north-west of China. Nat Hazards 67, 483–495 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0574-5

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