Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021

Against the backdrop of intensified global climate change, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in mainland China continue to rise due to its unique topography and complex climate types. In-depth research on the trends and impacts of climate extremes can help develop effective adapt...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xulei Wang, Lifeng Wu, Huiying Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1398
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850149941109850112
author Xulei Wang
Lifeng Wu
Huiying Liu
author_facet Xulei Wang
Lifeng Wu
Huiying Liu
author_sort Xulei Wang
collection DOAJ
description Against the backdrop of intensified global climate change, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in mainland China continue to rise due to its unique topography and complex climate types. In-depth research on the trends and impacts of climate extremes can help develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect the environment and enhance social resilience. In this research, temperature data from 2029 meteorological stations for the period 1961–2021 were used to study 15 extreme temperature indices and 3 extreme composite temperature indices. Linear propensity estimation and the Mann–Kendall test were applied to analyze the spatial and temporal variations in extreme temperatures in China, and Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to reveal the relationship between these indices and atmospheric circulation. The results show that in the past 60 years, the extreme temperature index in China has shown a trend of decreasing low-temperature events and increasing high-temperature events; in particular, the increase in warm nights is significantly higher than that of warm days. In terms of spatial distribution, daily maximum temperature less than the 10th percentile (TX10P) and daily minimum temperature greater than the 90th percentile (TN90P) increased significantly in the warm temperate sub-humid (WTSH) region, north subtropical humid (NSH) region, and marginal tropical humid (MTH) region, whereas frost days (FD0) and diurnal temperature range (DTR) decreased significantly. In the extreme composite temperature index, extreme temperature range (ETR) showed a downward trend, while compound heatwave (CHW) and compound heatwave and relative humidity (CHW-RH20) increased, with the latter mainly concentrated in the WTSH and NSH regions. Correlation analysis with climate oscillation shows that Arctic Oscillation (AO), Atlantic Multiannual Oscillation (AMO), and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are positively correlated with extremely high temperatures, whereas North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are negatively correlated.
format Article
id doaj-art-404a8dfeb5a04a4c9a89a91782cd6dca
institution OA Journals
issn 2073-4433
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-404a8dfeb5a04a4c9a89a91782cd6dca2025-08-20T02:26:45ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-11-011511139810.3390/atmos15111398Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021Xulei Wang0Lifeng Wu1Huiying Liu2School of Water Conservancy and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, ChinaAgainst the backdrop of intensified global climate change, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in mainland China continue to rise due to its unique topography and complex climate types. In-depth research on the trends and impacts of climate extremes can help develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect the environment and enhance social resilience. In this research, temperature data from 2029 meteorological stations for the period 1961–2021 were used to study 15 extreme temperature indices and 3 extreme composite temperature indices. Linear propensity estimation and the Mann–Kendall test were applied to analyze the spatial and temporal variations in extreme temperatures in China, and Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to reveal the relationship between these indices and atmospheric circulation. The results show that in the past 60 years, the extreme temperature index in China has shown a trend of decreasing low-temperature events and increasing high-temperature events; in particular, the increase in warm nights is significantly higher than that of warm days. In terms of spatial distribution, daily maximum temperature less than the 10th percentile (TX10P) and daily minimum temperature greater than the 90th percentile (TN90P) increased significantly in the warm temperate sub-humid (WTSH) region, north subtropical humid (NSH) region, and marginal tropical humid (MTH) region, whereas frost days (FD0) and diurnal temperature range (DTR) decreased significantly. In the extreme composite temperature index, extreme temperature range (ETR) showed a downward trend, while compound heatwave (CHW) and compound heatwave and relative humidity (CHW-RH20) increased, with the latter mainly concentrated in the WTSH and NSH regions. Correlation analysis with climate oscillation shows that Arctic Oscillation (AO), Atlantic Multiannual Oscillation (AMO), and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are positively correlated with extremely high temperatures, whereas North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are negatively correlated.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1398extreme composite temperature indexChina regionspace–time changeclimate oscillationMann–Kendall test
spellingShingle Xulei Wang
Lifeng Wu
Huiying Liu
Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021
Atmosphere
extreme composite temperature index
China region
space–time change
climate oscillation
Mann–Kendall test
title Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021
title_full Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021
title_fullStr Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021
title_full_unstemmed Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021
title_short Extreme Temperature Index in China from a Statistical Perspective: Change Characteristics and Trend Analysis from 1961 to 2021
title_sort extreme temperature index in china from a statistical perspective change characteristics and trend analysis from 1961 to 2021
topic extreme composite temperature index
China region
space–time change
climate oscillation
Mann–Kendall test
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1398
work_keys_str_mv AT xuleiwang extremetemperatureindexinchinafromastatisticalperspectivechangecharacteristicsandtrendanalysisfrom1961to2021
AT lifengwu extremetemperatureindexinchinafromastatisticalperspectivechangecharacteristicsandtrendanalysisfrom1961to2021
AT huiyingliu extremetemperatureindexinchinafromastatisticalperspectivechangecharacteristicsandtrendanalysisfrom1961to2021