Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Advance in application of regional climate models in China

  • Published:
Chinese Geographical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Regional climate models have become the powerful tools for simulating regional climate and its change process and have been widely used in China. Using regional climate models, some research results have been obtained on the following aspects: 1) the numerical simulation of East Asian monsoon climate, including exceptional monsoon precipitation, summer precipitation distribution, East Asian circulation, multi-year climate average condition, summer rain belt and so on; 2) the simulation of arid climate of the western China, including thermal effect of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the plateau precipitation in the Qilian Mountains; and the impacts of greenhouse effects (CO2 doubling) upon climate in the western China; and 3) the simulation of the climate effect of underlying surface changes, including the effect of soil on climate formation, the influence of terrain on precipitation, the effect of regional soil degradation on regional climate, the effect of various underlying surfaces on regional climate, the effect of land-sea contrast on the climate formulation, the influence of snow cover over the plateau regions on the regional climate, the effect of vegetation changes on the regional climate, etc. In the process of application of regional climate models, the preferences of the models are improved so that better simulation results are gotten. At last, some suggestions are made about the application of regional climate models in regional climate research in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bates G T, Giorgi F, Hostetler S W, 1993. Towards the simulation of the effects of the Great Lakes on regional climate. Mon. Wea. Rev., 121(5): 1373–1387. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121〈1373:TTSOTE〉2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caya Daniel, Rene Laprise, 1999. A semi-implicit semi-lagrangain regional climate model: The Canadian RCM. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127(3): 341–362. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127〈0341:ASISLR〉2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen O B, Christensen J H, 2004. Intensification of extreme European summer precipitation in a warmer climate. Global and Planetary Change, 44: 107–117. DOI: 10.1016/ j.gloplacha.2004.06.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickenson R E, Errico R M, Giorgi F et al., 1989. A regional climate model for western United States. Climatic Change, 15: 383–422. DOI: 10.1007/BF00240465

    Google Scholar 

  • Elguindi N, Bi Xunqiang, Giorgi F et al., 2006. RegCM Version 3.1 User’s Guide. 2006-10-01. http://users.ictp.it/:_pubregcm/RegCM3/

  • Fan Guangzhou, Lu Shihua, 1999. Numerical simulation study for the effect of terrain on North China summer precipitation. Plateau Meteorology, 18(4): 659–667. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler H J, Ekstr M, Kilsby C G et al., 2005. New estimates of future changes in extreme rainfall across the UK using regional climate model integrations, 1. assessment of control climate. Journal of Hydrology, 300(1/4): 212–233. DOI: 10.1016/j. jhydrol.2004.06.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu Congbin, Wang Shuyu, Xiong Zhe et al., 2004. Progress report on regional climate model intercomparison project for Asia. Climatic and Environment Research, 9(2): 225–239. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu Congbin, Wei Helin, Chen Ming et al., 1998. Simulation of the evolution of summer monsoon rainbelts over eastern China from regional climate model. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 22(4): 522–534. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu Congbin, Yuan Huiling, 2001. A Hypothesized experiment about the resumed vegetation influence to the East Asia summer climate and environment. Chinese Science Bulletin, 48(80): 691–695. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Xuejie, Zhang Xuefeng, Chen Zhongxin et al., 2007. Numerical simulation of the present land utilization influence to the regional climate in China. Science in China (Series D), 37(2): 397–404. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Xuejie, Zhao Zongci, Ding Yihui, 2003. Climate change due to greenhouse effects in northwest China as simulated by a regional climate model. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 25(2): 165–169. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Yanhong, Lu Shihua, 2001. Numerical simulation of local climatic effect of heterogeneous underlying surface. Plateau Meteorology, 354–361. (in Chinese)

  • Giorgi F, 1990. Simulation of regional climate using a limited-area model nested in a general circulation model. Climate, 3(8): 941–963. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0442(1990)003〈0941: SORCUA〉2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi F, Bates G T, 1989. The climatological skill of a regional model over complex terrain. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117(11): 2325–2347. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117〈2325:TCSOAR〉 2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi F, Bates G T, Nieman S, 1993. The multi-year surface climatology of a regional atmospheric model over the western United States. Climate, 6(1): 75–95. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0442 (1993)006〈0075:TMSCOA〉2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Jianxia, Du Jiwen, Zheng Youfei, 2004. Sensitivity of local weather to different vegetation schemes using meso-scale model (MM5). Acta Ecologiaca Sinica, 24(7): 1365–1371. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • He Yuan, Su Bingkai, Zhao Ming, 2001. Experiment on the sensitivity of RegCM2 to scalar roughness lengths. Scinetia Meteorologica Sinica, 21(2): 136–146. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee D K, Suh M S, 2000. Ten-year East Asian summer monsoon simulation using a regional climate model (RegCM2). Geophys. Res., 105(D24): 29565–29577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung L R, Qian Y, Bian X D et al., 2004. Mid-century ensemble regional climate change scenarios for the western United States. Climatic Change, 62(1): 75–113. DOI: 10.1023/B:CLIM. 0000013692.50640.55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Qiaoping, Ding Yihui, 2004. Multi-year simulation of the East Asian monsoon and precipitation in China using a regional climate model and evaluation. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 62(2): 140–153. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Suosuo, Lu Shihua, Gao Yanhong et al., 2005. Effect of different horizontal resolutions on simulation of precipitation in Qilian mountain. Plateau Meteorology, 24(4): 496–502. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Huaqiang, Qian Yongfu, 2001. Effects of envelope orography and gravity wave drag parameterization on regional climate simulations. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 25(1): 209–220. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Huaqiang, Sun Zhaobo, Wang Ju et al., 2005. Modeling study on anomalous snow cover effects over western and eastern parts of Qinghai-Xizang plateau. Plateau Meteorology, 24(3): 357–365. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Liping, Qian Yongfu, Wu Aiming, 2000. Comparison of simulated results of regional climate in summer over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and northwest China. Plateau Meteorology, 19(3): 313–322. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Ningwei, Zhou Jun, Zhou Xiaoshan et al., 2003. The numerical simulation of the influence of land degradation on local temperature in the west of Liaoning province. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 26(5): 605–612. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Ningwei, Zhou Xiaoshan, 2004. Numerical experiments on the influences of vegetation changes on summer climate in the west of Liaoning Province. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 27(5): 632–640. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu Shihua, Chen Yuchun, 1998. Simulation of summer precipitation over north China in 1991 and 1994 with a NCAR regional climate model. Plateau Meteorology, 18(4): 632–640. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Yong, Zhao Zongci, 1997. Numerical simulation of East Asian regional climate with NCAR RegCM2. Journal of Applied Meteorological Science, 8(suppl.): 124–133. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian Yongfu, 1993. Numerical simulations of the effects of underlying surfaces on the climate change. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 17(3): 283–293. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian Yongfu, Liu Huaqiang, 2001. On nesting area selection of regional climate models coupled to a global climate model. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 25(4): 492–502. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian Yun, Qian Yongfu, 1996. Numerical experiments on the effects of factors of underlying surface on climate formation and variation. Acta Geographica Sinica, 51(3): 230–239. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Xueli, Ding Yihui, Liu Yiming, 2001. Simulation experiments of summer rainbelt in China with regional climate model. Climatic and Environment Research, 6(2): 249–254. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang Jianping, Su Binkai, Jiang Jing et al., 2001. A regional climate model with a surface layer. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 25(2): 221–230. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang Jianping, Zhao Ming, Su Bingkai et al., 2005. Simulation experiments of summer climate and change in East Asian using MM5BATS regional climate model. Plateau Meteorology, 24(1): 28–37. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei Helin, Fu Congbin, Wang Weiqiang, 1998. The effect of lateral boundary treatment of regional climate model on the East Asian summer monsoon rainfall simulation. Scientia Atmos pherica Sinica, 22(5): 779–790. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiong Zhe, 2004a. The multiyear surface climatology of RIMES over East Asia. Climatic and Environment Research, 9(2): 251–260. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiong Zhe, 2004b. Evolutionary character of climatology over East Asia by RIMES. Climatic and Environment Research, 9(2): 295–302. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan Minhua, 2007. Observing Climate Change and Its Regional Difference in the Northeast China. Beijing: Science Press, 189–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan Minhua, Xu Chuanshu, Wang Dandan et al., 2006. Acquirement of underlying surface data of the Sanjiang Plain for simulation of wetland climate effect. Wetland Science, 4(2): 108–114. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Zongci, Luo Yong, Leung R et al., 1997. Simulations of summer monsoon over East Asia: intercomparisons of three regional climate models. Journal of Applied Meteorological Science, 8(suppl.): 117–122. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Yiqun, Yu Ge, Xu Bin et al., 2004, Simulation of East Asian climate at 6ka B.P. Quaternary Sciences, 24(1): 28–38. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130012, China

    Zhang Wei & Yan Minhua

  2. Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhang Wei & Yan Minhua

  3. Laboratory of Research for Middle-high Latitude Circulation System and East Asian Monsoon, Changchun, 130062, China

    Yan Minhua

  4. Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100864, China

    Chen Panqin

  5. Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China

    Xu Helan

Authors
  1. Zhang Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yan Minhua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chen Panqin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xu Helan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Minhua.

Additional information

Foundation item: Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40771190), Foundation of Research Start-up for Winner of President Scholarship of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. C08B9), Foundation of Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. WELF-2004-B-001)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, W., Yan, M., Chen, P. et al. Advance in application of regional climate models in China. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 18, 93–100 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-008-0093-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-008-0093-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation