Quantitative relationships between precipitation and temperature over Northeast China, 1961–2010

Abstract

This paper investigates monthly and seasonal precipitation–temperature relationships (PTRs) over Northeast China using a method proposed in this study. The PTRs are influenced by clouds, latent and sensible heat conversion, precipitation type, etc. In summer, the influences of these factors on temperature decrease are different for various altitudes, latitudes, longitudes, and climate types. Stronger negative PTRs ranging from −0.049 to −0.075 °C/mm mostly occur in the semi-arid region, where the cold frontal-type precipitation dominates. In contrast, weaker negative PTRs ranging from −0.004 to −0.014 °C/mm mainly distribute in Liaoning Province, where rain is mainly orographic rain controlled by the warm and humid air of East Asian summer monsoon. In winter, surface temperature increases owing to the release of latent heat and sensible heat when precipitation occurs. The stronger positive PTRs ranging from 0.963 to 3.786 °C/mm mostly occur at high altitudes and latitudes due to more release of sensible heat. The enhanced atmospheric counter radiation by clouds is the major factor affecting increases of surface temperature in winter and decreases of surface temperature in summer when precipitation occurs.