Multi-scale Variability of Rainfall in China

Abstract:

This study used a long-term (1960-2013) dataset to examine the variations of rainfall amounts and rainfall frequencies in China in terms of light, moderate, heavy, and torrential rainfall. The results show that there is an increasing trend of rainfall amounts over western part, which is mostly contributed from the enhancement of light and moderate rainfall in all four seasons. Similar increasing pattern is obtained in southeastern part but this is because of more torrential rainfall during summertime. Substantial decreasing trends are found in southwestern and north China, and they are probably due to the reduction of light and moderate rainfall. Analysis of rainfall frequencies suggest there are more rainfall days in western China and less rainfall days in eastern part, and the variations in these two regions are mainly due to the change of light rainfall frequencies. Precipitation variability in different latitudes and longitudes is also analyzed on different timescales. Based on the above results, future distribution of rainfall amounts and frequencies under different climate factors in China can be better estimated, which will clearly improve the understanding of regional climate change.