Research on the Differences of Climatic Characteristics of Different Levels of Gale Disasters in Northern Xinjiang

Abstract

Disaster damage index and disaster grades are constructed by using multi index method on the basis of overall consideration, based on the disaster data of 671 wind disasters taking place in 38 counties (cities) in Northern Xinjiang from 1980 to 2019, and by selecting six disaster factors including the death toll, the number of collapsed houses, the number of collapsed sheds, the number of damaged green houses, the number of livestock deaths and the affected area caused by each wind disaster event. The results show that in space, wind disasters are the most frequent in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture and Altay Prefecture, and the losses caused by wind disasters are the most severe along Tianshan Mountain in Northern Xinjiang and Altay Prefecture. In terms of time, wind disasters in Northern Xinjiang are mainly concentrated in spring and summer (from March to August), of which April and May are the months with the highest frequency. In recent 40 years, the occurrence times and extent of harm of wind disasters in Northern Xinjiang have shown a linear growth trend; the occurrence times of wind disasters at various grades and the extent of harm have increased significantly during the years around 2000; it is found, upon examination, there was a sudden change of climate in the late 1990s, and the increase rate is inversely proportional to the grade of wind disaster. Therefore, the wind disasters in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Altay Prefecture and the area along Tianshan Mountain in Northern Xinjiang from April to May each year are the areas in Northern Xinjiang with the highest wind disaster risk. The study can provide scientific basis for wind disaster prevention and control in Northern Xinjiang.