Characteristics of drought in the arid region of northwestern China

Abstract

Drought evolution from 1960 to 2010 and its teleconnections were analyzed by utilizing the monthly Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) in the arid region of northwestern China. To assess the temporal pattern of drought as multi-scalar events, the SPEI was calculated for short-term (1 and 3 mo), medium-term (6 and 12 mo), and long-term droughts (24 and 48 mo). The results showed (1) step changes occurred in 1986; droughts occurred frequently before 1986, and wet periods prevailed after 1986. Generally, the period of 1973−1983 showed the highest drought activity, while 1993−1998 showed the lowest. (2) Annual and seasonal SPEI demonstrated significant upward trends, especially for the stations around the Tarim River Basin, implying that the study area had become wetter. (3) Interannual periods and decadal periods were observed for the whole study area and sub-regions. Moreover, patterns of period characteristics became more apparent at longer time scales. (4) The Indian Ocean Basin-Wide mode (IOBW) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) may be the dominant forces, with the largest correlation coefficients in the whole study area. For the Xinjiang region, the simultaneous Arctic Oscillation (AO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) play an important role in drought evolution, especially from January to March. Lag times between climate indices and SPEI may exist in this arid region, and current droughts may be affected by the preceding climate indices. KEY WORDS: Drought · SPEI · Teleconnections · Arid region of ChinaResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Editorial responsibility: Tim Sparks,

Multivariate Drought Frequency Analysis using Four-Variate Symmetric and Asymmetric Archimedean Copula Functions

“…This may be a particularly serious disadvantage under warming conditions or other changes in regional hydrology. Based on these considerations, since SPEI have been widely applied in various copula-based drought-related studies in China (Liu et al 2015; ; Wang et al 2015;Zhang et al 2015b;Hao et al 2017), it is therefore employed for this study. The SPEI is a multi-scalar drought index, recommended as an enhancement of the SPI (Vicente-Serrano et al 2010).…”

Identification of Drought Events and Correlations with Large-Scale Ocean–Atmospheric Patterns of Variability: A Case Study in Xinjiang, China

“…Li et al [24] found that 65% of the land area in central Asia has shown a drying trend over the past decade (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014), especially in southern Xinjiang. Similarly, northwestern China has also sustained severe droughts in the past few decades [25]. Drought-affected and damaged area has increased over the past two decades [25].…”

“…Similarly, northwestern China has also sustained severe droughts in the past few decades [25]. Drought-affected and damaged area has increased over the past two decades [25]. Li et al [26] found that drought severity decreased in Xinjiang using four drought indices (the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) index, Erinç's aridity index, Sahin's aridity index, and SPEI) from 1961 to 2012.…”

“…Zhang et al [27] reported that the severity and duration of drought decreased in northern Xinjiang but increased in southern Xinjiang from 1957 to 2009. Wang et al [25] analyzed drought conditions in northwestern China (including Xinjiang) and found the highest drought activity period (1973)(1974)(1975)(1976)(1977)(1978)(1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983) during 1960-2010. Mahmood et al [28] showed that severe drought occurred from 1983 to 1986 over western Xinjiang.…”

Intra‐annual differences of 3‐month Standardized Precipitation‐Evapotranspiration Index dryness/wetness sensitivity over southwest China

“…It is reported that this country has experienced long lasting and severe droughts since the second half of the 20th century, accompanied by far-reaching adverse impacts on socioeconomic sectors (Yang et al, 2012;Yu et al, 2014). However, due to regional differences in climate variables' changes (e.g., signs and magnitudes), drought or dryness/wetness variations differ from region to region across China (e.g., Wang and Chen, 2012;Lu et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2018), such as intensifying droughts over southwest China (SWC) since the start of the 21st century, aridifying in north China, and wetting northwest China. Particularly, SWC droughts largely threaten the regional agriculture, water availability and ecosystems (Lu et al, 2014;Sun et al, 2017).…”