Spatial and temporal patterns of climate variations in the Kaidu River Basin of Xinjiang, Northwest China

Abstract

This paper investigated the spatial and temporal climate variations of the Kaidu River Basin in Xinjiang from 1961 to 2009. The annual and monthly temperature and precipitation data were collected from six meteorological stations in the river basin and analyzed by a Mann–Kendall test and linear trend estimation. The results showed that: (1) temperature increased significantly in oasis areas over the past 49 years, while it does not display an increasing trend in mountainous areas over the same period; (2) precipitation exhibited a steep increasing trend in mountainous areas over the past 49 years, while the increasing trend in oasis areas is not significant; (3) with regard to seasonal variation, temperatures increased the most in spring and summer in the northern part of the mountainous area (Baluntai) and in the southern part of the oasis area (Yanqi County). The mean annual precipitation and the mean summer precipitation showed the largest increases in the northwestern part of the mountainous area (Bayinbuluke) and the largest decreases in the northern part of the oasis area (Hejing and Heshuo Counties). Temperature and precipitation increased from 2006 to 2009, showing a warming and wetting trend.