The dramatic climate warming in the Qaidam Basin, northeastern Tibetan Plateau, during 1961–2010

Abstract

On the basis of meteorological station records during 1961–2010, we investigate the variations of temperature and precipitation in the Qaidam Basin. Results show that climate warming is significant in the region of Qaidam Basin over the past 50 years, with an average warming rate of 0.53 °C 10a−1. The largest and smallest warming rate happened at Mangya station (0.89 °C 10a−1) and Lenghu station (0.24 °C 10a−1), respectively. Seasonal warming was greatest in winter at eight meteorological stations, ranging from 0.43 °C 10a−1 (Lenghu station) to 1.01 °C 10a−1 (Delingha station). Since 1961, the annual precipitation has increased with a rate of 7.38 mm 10a−1. Seasonal precipitation mainly increased in summer (4.02 mm 10a−1). The maximum precipitation increase occurred at Delingha station (25.09 mm 10a−1) and the minimum at Lenghu station (0.10 mm 10a−1). The elevation dependency of warming trends is unremarkable because most of the stations are located at lower altitudes. It is suggested that sunshine duration is related to the tendencies of temperature increase at different stations. Pollution emissions from industrial processes (i.e. brown clouds) and urbanization are the main factors contributing to the warming climate. Furthermore, the predominant weakening of zonal wind speed over the Tibetan Plateau resulted from the global warming also contributes to the climate warming in the Qaidam Basin. Consequently, the warming rate in the Qaidam Basin is much higher than in other regions over the Tibetan Plateau. The Qaidam Basin is thus considered to be the most susceptible region with the most significant warming in the Tibetan Plateau.

The Spatial and Temporal Variation of Temperature in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau during 1971–2015

“…The recent rapid warming trend is likely to be associated with an increased carbon dioxide content, variation of cloud, ozone depletion ratios, feedback from ice and snow, aerosol, land cover change, and urbanization [14,22,44,45]. However, there is no clear understanding of the physical mechanism of climate change in the TP, and these scientific issues are our study focus in the future.…”

Review on climate change on the Tibetan Plateau during the last half century

“…The smallest warming rate locates in the southeastern part of the region, and the largest warming rate locates in the northern part [ Chen et al , ]. The most significant climate warming is in the Qaidam Basin [ Xie et al , ; Guo and Wang , ; Chen et al , ; Wang et al , ]. From 1961 to 2007, the warming rate in the Qaidam Basin ranges from 0.35 to 0.74°C decade −1 [ Guo and Wang , ].…”

“…From 1961 to 2007, the warming rate in the Qaidam Basin ranges from 0.35 to 0.74°C decade −1 [ Guo and Wang , ]. During 1961–2010, the warming rate of annual mean temperature in the Qaidam Basin is 0.53°C decade −1 and the annual mean temperature increased about 2.65°C [ Wang et al , ]. The warming rate in the central TP is about 0.3°C decade −1 during 1961–2007 [ Guo and Wang , ; Chen et al , ].…”

“…The climate warming on the TP is the most significant in winter, followed by autumn [ Liu and Chen , ; Frauenfeld et al , ; You et al , ; Xu et al , ; Rangwala et al , ; Li et al , ; Xie et al , ; You et al , , , ; Zhang et al , ]. A comparison of annual and seasonal warming rates is shown in Figure [ Liu and Chen , ; You et al , ; Wang et al , ]. From 1955 to 1996, the increasing rate of annual mean air temperature is 0.16°C decade −1 , but the increasing rate of winter mean air temperature during the same period is 0.32°C decade −1 [ Liu and Chen , ].…”

“…Increasing rates of annual and seasonal mean air temperatures. Circles: 1955–1996 [ Liu and Chen , ]; triangles: 1961–2004 [ You et al, ]; squares: 1961–2010 [ Wang et al ., ].…”