Asynchronous changes in terrestrial near-surface wind speed among regions across China from 1973 to 2017

Abstract

Understanding the characteristics and causes of asynchronous changes in near-surface wind speed (NSWS) improves the ability of climate projection, but yet to be comprehended are the asynchronous features in NSWS and possible causes over China. In this study, the asynchronous variations in NSWS among regions are considerable across China. The non-synchronization of variations in intra-annual NSWS was manifested in the amplitudes and periods of NSWS. The amplitudes and periods of intra-annual NSWS among regions were in the ranges of 0.08–0.20 m s−1 and 0.24–0.32 years, respectively. The intra-annual changes in NSWS in different regions were influenced by different large–scale ocean–atmosphere circulations (LOACs). The non-synchronization of variations in interannual NSWS was also manifested in the amplitudes and periods of NSWS, and the strongest and weakest interannual variations in NSWS occurred over northeast and northwest China. The interannual variations in NSWS could be induced by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). At intra-annual and interannual scales, LOACs mainly controlled the changes in the phase of NSWS, which could not be responsible for the amplitudes of NSWS. The interdecadal NSWS also showed regional differences, and it mainly exhibited an increase after the 1990s in all regions except for South China. The interdecadal changes in NSWS among regions were also dominated by LOACs, which contributed reached 50.0% to the NSWS changes. Furthermore, the LOACs dominated not only the changes in the phase of interdecadal NSWS but also the changes in amplitudes of interdecadal NSWS.