On the study of water vapor transport in the Yangtze River Basin under global warming background

Abstract

In this paper, we explored the trends of the summer whole layer moisture budget and precipitation during 1961 to 2005 and possible correlations between them using linear regression method in the Yangtze River basin, China. The results indicate that: 1) the summer moisture budget and precipitation are in significant increasing trend with p<0.05 in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin. The summer moisture budget and precipitation are also increasing, but are not significant at >95% confidence level on the upper Yangtze basin; 2) The annual moisture budget show significant decreasing trend in the Yangtze basin and this decreasing trend is not significant at >95% confidence level with p<0.05. However, the annual precipitation is increased in mid-lower while decreased in the up Yangtze basin, but these trends are not significant at >95% confidence level; 3) This research sheds light on the changing features of summer precipitation and possible correlation with discharge and moisture budget in the Yangtze River basin since that flood hazards mostly occurred to the summer, which will be of great scientific merits in further understanding the changes of the summer precipitation, related impacts on discharge change and possible causes. The research results will be helpful for flood control and fluvial management in the Yangtze River basin under the changing climate.