Climate and Dynamics
Why does the temperature rise faster in the arid region of northwest China?
Article first published online: 29 AUG 2012
DOI: 10.1029/2012JD017953
Published in 2012 by the American Geophysical Union
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , and (2012), Why does the temperature rise faster in the arid region of northwest China?, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D16115, doi:10.1029/2012JD017953.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 AUG 2012
- Article first published online: 29 AUG 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 18 JUL 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 9 JUL 2012
- Manuscript Received: 17 APR 2012
Keywords:
- Siberian High;
- atmospheric circulations;
- greenhouse gas;
- northwest China;
- regional climate;
- temperatrue
[1] During 1960–2010, the air temperature in the arid region of northwest China had a significant rising trend (P < 0.001), at a rate of 0.343°C/decade, higher than the average of China (0.25°C/decade) and that of the entire globe (0.13°C/decade) for the same period. Based on the analysis of the data from 74 meteorological stations in the region for 1960–2010, we found that among the four seasons the temperature change of winter has been playing the most important role in the yearly change in this region. We also found that the winter temperature in this region has a strong association with the Siberian High (correlation coefficient: R = −0.715) and the greenhouse gas emission (R = 0.51), and between the two the former is stronger. We thus suggest that the weakening of the Siberian High during the 1980s to 1990s on top of the steady increasing of the greenhouse emission is the main reason for the higher rate of the temperature rise in the arid region of the northwest China.

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