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Changes of precipitation pattern in China: 1961–2010

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Abstract

Based on the precipitation records of 2474 meteorological stations, this study investigated precipitation characteristics and trends in China from 1961 to 2010, including spatiotemporal distribution and changes in average annual precipitation amount, number of days when daily precipitation >  = 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 mm, and extreme precipitation indices. The results showed that: (1) in terms of annual average precipitation amount, both dry to wet, wet to wetter, and shifting between wet and dry showed decadal and climatical fluctuations in annual precipitation totals in space and time, with a clear shift in space from the 0 to 200 mm and above 400 mm precipitation levels to the 200 to 400 mm precipitation level. (2) In terms of graded precipitation days, three kinds of trend changes were observed: (a) enhancement, manifested as an increase in precipitation events, mainly in the northwest and northeast of China; (b) reduction, manifested as a decrease in precipitation events, mainly in the central parts of China; and (c) polarization, which is manifested as a decrease in gentle and light precipitation events but an increase in dry days, heavy, and rainstorm precipitation events, primarily along coastal area in southeast China. (3) In terms of extreme precipitation events, precipitation persistence showed a decreasing trend, but an increasing trend in precipitation intensity and magnitude in most regions of China. This paper also presents the relationship between certain atmospheric circulation indices and the seasonal precipitation of summer and winter. The distribution characteristics and changes in minor precipitation events were highlighted, including gentle and light rain events. Relevant findings can provide scientific guidance for water resource management and conservation.

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Data availability

The data used in this study are available from the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System (http://cdc.nmic.cn/) and the National Climate Center (https://www.ncc-cma.net/Website/index.php?ChannelID=43&WCHID=5). Data will be made available on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Key Technology R&D Program (Grant No. 2018YFA0606104) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41471073). The authors thank the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System for kindly sharing the Chinese observed meteorological data, Xuebin Zhang and Yang Feng at the Climate Research Division who developed and maintained the RclimDex software, and Zunya Wang at the National Climate Center for her help on the calculation of the atmospheric circulation index. Thanks to Yao Feng and Hong Jiang for reading and commenting on a draft of the manuscript. Jo-Anne King, of the University of Melbourne’s Academic Skills Team, provided invaluable support in language improvement. We would also like to thank Prof. Hartmut Graßl (Editor) and the anonymous reviewers for their invaluable comments and constructive suggestions, which improved the quality of the manuscript. This work would not have been possible without their generous and invaluable help.

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  1. Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Ang Zhang & Xinyi Zhao

  2. Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Ang Zhang

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Zhang, A., Zhao, X. Changes of precipitation pattern in China: 1961–2010. Theor Appl Climatol 148, 1005–1019 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-022-03986-w

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