Abstract
Abstract. Based on the precipitation data from 1961 to 2017 in the Yellow River Basin and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the variation characteristics of seasonal precipitation in the Yellow River Basin and its relationship to the circulation patterns were analyzed. Furthermore, effect of sea surface temperature (SST) on the seasonal precipitation was discussed. The results were as follows: (1) The precipitation in spring, summer and autumn all presented non-significant decreasing trends, while that in winter presented a non-significant upward trend. (2) The inter-annual and inter-decadal fluctuations of the precipitation of each season were evident. The fluctuation in winter was the most obvious, followed by that in spring and autumn, with that in summer most stable. Moreover, the precipitation in summer, autumn and winter in 1990s was the least. (3) When the precipitation in spring, autumn and winter was significantly above (below) normal, the 500 hPa height anomaly field over Eurasia mid-high latitude of the corresponding period presented “positive (negative) in east and negative (positive) in west”. While, when the precipitation in summer was significantly above (below) normal, the height anomaly field presented “+(-), -(+), +(-)”, and the West Pacific subtropical high was stronger (weaker) and lying more northward (southward). Additionally, when the precipitation in each season was significantly above (below) normal, the 850 hPa wind anomalies showed abnormal southerly (northerly) winds in Eastern China, which was favorable (unfavorable) to transport water vapor from the South China Sea and the Western North Pacific to the Yellow River Basin. (4) The spring precipitation was above (below) normal during the period of El Niño (La Niña), while the summer, autumn and winter precipitation presented the opposite characteristics.
Highlights
The Yellow River Basin with a vast territory is the second largest river in China
Chen et al (2016) considered that the seasonal precipitation distribution changed in 1990s, namely, if the proportion of the seasonal precipitation gradually increased before 1990s, it would decrease after 1990s
Correlations between different period precipitation were measured and the results showed that the correlation coefficients between the annual precipitation and the spring/summer/autumn precipitation were respectively 0.39/0.71/0.61, which were all at 0.01 significance level, while the correlation coefficient between the annual precipitation and the winter precipitation and those between each seasonal precipitation were not significantly correlative
Summary
The Yellow River Basin with a vast territory is the second largest river in China. Precipitation is the main source of water resources, having significant effect on industrial and agricultural production as well as people’s livelihood (Shao et al, 2015). J. Liu et al.: Variations of Seasonal Precipitation in the Yellow River Basin cific subtropical high, extratropical cyclone and the depression in Lake Baikal were the main circulation systems affecting the summer precipitation. Many studies found that El Niño and La Niña had a significant relationship with precipitation distribution in China. Zhao et al (2018) considered that the annual mean precipitation was decreased in the El Niño years and increased in La Niña years. Chang et al (2013) defined the NINO3 SST difference index from the previous October to current April and indicated that the index had a significant negative correlation with summer precipitation in the Yellow River Basin.
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