Evaluation of spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation variations in Jilin Province, Northeast China

Abstract

Precipitation time series were analysed using the Mann–Kendall (MK) test and wavelet analysis based on the mean seasonal and annual precipitation from 29 meteorological stations in Jilin Province for the period 1958–2011. Both the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of the seasonal and annual precipitation trends and periodicities in different regions in Jilin Province were studied for the first time in this paper. New findings from the intensive calculations and appropriate analysis of data in longer period are as follows: (i) The annual precipitation of Jilin Province has experienced four states: a decrease (1958–1980), increase (1980–1987), decrease (1987–2003) and increase (2003–2011). (ii) The annual precipitation and seasonal precipitation increased from the northwest and northeast of the study area toward the south. (iii) Almost 90 % of the stations showed negative trends in annual precipitation variations. (iv) The trends in spring and winter are mainly increasing, whereas the trends in summer and autumn are mainly decreasing. (v) Jilin Province can be divided into four parts based on the periodicities of annual precipitation sequences: 5–6, 10–20 and 25–30 years in the northwest; 4–8 and 16–25 years in the centre; 7–8 and 13–17 years in the south and 5–10 and 12–17 years in the southeast.