China’s temperature extremes: a 60-year climate chronicle newswise

Newswise – As global temperatures rise, extreme climate events have become more frequent and intense, leading to an increase in natural disasters and resulting in significant socio-economic losses. The World Meteorological Organization reports that nearly 12,000 disasters occurred between 1970 and 2021, causing approximately $4.3 trillion in economic losses. The intensity of these events has attracted global attention due to their devastating impacts on both ecosystems and human populations. Understanding the patterns, frequency and severity of temperature extremes is important to formulate effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. In-depth research on the evolution of extreme temperature events across China is needed due to the spatial variability of these changes influenced by geographic and atmospheric factors.

Published (DOI: 10.1007/s11442-024-2275-2) On 10th October 2024 Geographical Sciences JournalThe study, led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides a detailed investigation of extreme temperatures in China. By analyzing data from 2138 weather stations, the study provides comprehensive insight into the country’s climate changes, focusing on 14 extreme temperature indices.

The study rigorously analyzed temperature data from 1961 to 2020 using daily temperature records from 2138 stations across China. It revealed notable changes in both cold and hot extremes. Extreme cold events, such as cold nights, cold days, frosty days, and snowy days, saw significant declines with rates of −6.64, −2.67, −2.96, and −0.97 days per decade, respectively. In contrast, hot extremes, including hot nights, hot days, summer days and tropical nights, saw a significant increase with rates of 8.44, 5.18, 2.81 and 2.50 days per decade, respectively. Additionally, the study found that minimum and maximum temperatures have increased by 0.47, 0.22, 0.26 and 0.16 degrees Celsius respectively per decade.

To better understand these changes, researchers used Pearson’s correlation and wavelet coherence analysis to explore the relationship between extreme temperature indices and atmospheric circulation factors. The study found a strong relationship between extreme temperatures and global atmospheric drivers, with particular emphasis on the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AO), which significantly influenced all 14 extreme temperature indices. Furthermore, the Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) showed a strong positive correlation with hot extremes and a negative correlation with cold extremes, further underscoring its role in shaping China’s climate patterns. These findings reveal the complex relationship between global atmospheric circulation and local temperature extremes in China.

Luo Yuanbo, lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of these findings: “Our in-depth analysis of temperature extremes over the past six decades highlights a clear warming trend across China with profound environmental and social impacts. Correlations between extreme temperature indices and atmospheric circulation factors such as the AMO and AO reveal how global climate drivers are influencing local conditions. Understanding these interactions is important to predict severe weather events and design effective disaster prevention strategies.

This research has important practical importance. By mapping spatio-temporal patterns of extreme temperatures and their relationships with atmospheric circulation, it enhances predictive models for extreme weather events in China. The study’s findings are essential to developing disaster preparedness strategies, enabling policymakers to allocate resources more effectively and protect communities from climate-related risks. Additionally, insights into global atmospheric impacts contribute to broader international climate efforts and the development of adaptive strategies.

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Reference

DOI

10.1007/s11442-024-2275-2

original source url

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-024-2275-2

Funding Information

National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2021YFB3900900.

About this Geographical Sciences Journal

Geographical Sciences Journal is an international and multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal focusing on human-nature relationships. It publishes papers on physical geography, natural resources, environmental science, geographical information, remote sensing and cartography. The manuscripts come from different parts of the world.