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Changes of annual accumulated temperature over Southern China during 1960–2011

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Abstract

The spatial and temporal variations of ≥10°C annual accumulated temperature (AAT10) were analyzed by using the linear trend line method, cumulative anomaly method and the multiple linear regression model (MLRM) interpolation method based on the daily meteorological observation data from 104 meteorological stations in Southern China and surrounding 39 meteorological stations from 1960 to 2011. The results show that: (1) From time scale point of view, the climatic trend of the AAT10 increased with an average of 7.54°C/decade in Southern China since 1960. The area of AAT10<6000°C decreased from 1960 to 2011, and the area of 6000°C<AAT10<8000°C decreased from 1960 to 1979 and increased from 1980 to 2011, and the area of AAT10>8000°C increased from 1960 to 2011. (2) From spatial scale point of view, the AAT10 in Southern China reduced with increasing latitude and reduced with increasing altitude. The proportion of the area with 5000°C<AAT10<8000°C accounted for 70% of the study area, followed by the area of 4000°C<AAT10<5000°C; and the area of AAT10<4000°C and AAT10>8000°C was the least. Climate trend rate of the AAT10 at 99% of the meteorological stations was greater than zero, which indicated that the AAT10 increased significantly in the central Yunnan province, southern Guangdong province as well as Hainan Island. (3) Comparison of period A (1960–1989) and period B (1980–2011) with the change of temperature zones shows that the boundaries of cool temperate zone, mid-temperate zone and warm temperate zone shifted northward and shrank westward. The northern boundary of north subtropical zone and mid-subtropical zone shifted northward gradually by over 0.5° and 0.5° latitude, respectively. The western part of northern boundary of south subtropical zone and marginal tropical zone shifted northward by 0.2° and 0.4° latitude, respectively. The change of temperature zones was expanded to high altitude and latitude. (4) The increase of the AAT10 is conducive to the production of tropical crops planted, which will increase the planting area that was suitable for tropical crops, and expand the planting boundaries to high latitude and high altitude.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Scientific and Technical Information, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, 571737, Hainan, China

    Shengpei Dai, Hailiang Li & Hongxia Luo

  2. Key Laboratory of Practical Research on Tropical Crops Information Technology in Hainan Province, Danzhou, 571737, Hainan, China

    Shengpei Dai, Hailiang Li & Hongxia Luo

  3. School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Shengpei Dai, Yifei Zhao & Kexin Zhang

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  1. Shengpei Dai
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  2. Hailiang Li
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  4. Yifei Zhao
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Correspondence to Shengpei Dai.

Additional information

Foundation: National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), No.2010CB951502; The Fundamental Research Founds for Central Institutes (Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS)), No. 1630012012017, No.1630012013012, No.1630012014020; Spark Research Program of China, No.2014GA 800006; Key Science and Technology Research Program of Hainan Province, No.ZDXM2014082

Author: Dai Shengpei, Assistant Professor and PhD Candidate, specialized in global change and remote sensing.

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Dai, S., Li, H., Luo, H. et al. Changes of annual accumulated temperature over Southern China during 1960–2011. J. Geogr. Sci. 25, 1155–1172 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-015-1225-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-015-1225-4

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