摘要
Distribution of desertification climate types in China was analyzed using Thornthwaite's method on calculating potential evapotranspiration (PE), according to the definition provided by the United Nations Convention, by employing meteorological records from 1864 stations in China. The annual PE and the humidity indices were calculated for every station, based on which a distribution map of HI was constructed. The potential range of desertification in China was obtained for the first time, about 3.32 million km2 and makes up about 34.6 percent of the country. The distribution map of HI was compared with the vegetation map of China and the precipitation map of China respectively. In eastern and northern China, the distribution of climate types is basically acceptable, but for QinghaiTibetan Plateau, where Thornthwaite's method on calculating PE is not quite suitable, the isopleths are deviated to the northern side and the potential range of desertification is smaller than expected.
Distribution of desertification climate types in China was analyzed using Thornthwaite's method on calculating potential evapotranspiration (PE), according to the definition provided by the United Nations Convention, by employing meteorological records from 1864 stations in China. The annual PE and the humidity indices were calculated for every station, based on which a distribution map of HI was constructed. The potential range of desertification in China was obtained for the first time, about 3.32 million km2 and makes up about 34.6 percent of the country. The distribution map of HI was compared with the vegetation map of China and the precipitation map of China respectively. In eastern and northern China, the distribution of climate types is basically acceptable, but for QinghaiTibetan Plateau, where Thornthwaite's method on calculating PE is not quite suitable, the isopleths are deviated to the northern side and the potential range of desertification is smaller than expected.
