Research for length change of four seasons over China in recent 47 years

Using daily temperature data from 599 Chinese weather stations during 1961-2007, the length change trends of four seasons dur- ing the past 47 years were analyzed. Results show that throughout the region, four seasons＇ lengths are： spring becomes shorter （-0.8 d/10yrs）, summer becomes longer （3.2 d/10yrs）, autumn （-0.5 d/10yrs） and winter （-1.6 d/10yrs） becomes shorter. This trend is different in spatial distribution, namely it is very obvious in northern than southern China, and also remarkable in eastern than western China. Summer change is most obvious, but autumn has little change comparatively. This trend is highly obvious in North, East, Central and South China. In the Southwest starting in the 21st century, summer becomes longer and winter shortens. The trend in the Plateau region since the 1980s is that spring becomes longer and winter shortens. The average annual temperature increased during the past 47 years, and the change of the average annual temperature precedes seasons＇ length. Thus, the average annual temperature has a certain influence on the length change of seasons.

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION FEATURES OF PRECIPITATION IN CHINA AND THEIR INTERANNUAL VARIATIONS

The hierarchy and definition of the precipitation-concentration degree and precipitation- concentration period of annual precipitation have been proposed by using the so-called vector method of annual distribution of precipitation,so that the two relevant parameters can represent the annual distribution of total precipitation correctly and indeed accurately.The relationship between the spatial and temporal distribution patterns and variations of the two parameters and the annual precipitation amount in China has been further investigated.Results demonstrate that the precipitation-concentration degree and the precipitation-concentration period increase from southeast to northwest gradually.Moreover there obviously exists a belt pattern:the largest variability of the precipitation-concentration degree and the precipitation-concentration period occurs in the Yellow River Valley and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, corresponding to the significant zones in which flood and drought take place frequently.It is found that there exist high correlations between the precipitation-concentration degree and precipitation- concentration period and the annual precipitation amount in Northeast China,North China,the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Furthermore,8-year and 22-year periodic oscillations in the precipitation-concentration degree and 6-year and 12-year cycles in the precipitation-concentration period are identified by use of their Morlet wavelet analysis.

TEMPERATURE,RAINFALL VARIATIONS AND THEIR ANOMALIES OVER CHINA UNDER THE COLD-WARM BACKGROUND IN THE 20TH CENTURY

In this study,the climate trend of the annual average air temperature and total annual rainfall in China in the present century has been examined.It is noted that in the Northwest,the Northeast and North China the climate has become notably warmer this century but the rainfall trend has not been evident,mainly negative.In the 1980s China's rainfall and temperature showed noticeable regional features: warm and dry in North China,cold and dry in the Southwest,warm and wet in the Northeast,cold and wet in the middle-lower reaches of the Changjiang River.Besides,the four interdecadal climate change features and ranges of this century have been studied.It is found that on the scale of several decades there was considerably less rainfall in the most part of China in the warm background than in the cold background.The increase of temperature which started from the 1970s mainly happened in the Northwest and Northeast,while to the south of the Huanghe River the temperature increase did not even as great as in 1940s.The corresponding rainfall feature is that most areas experienced much less rainfall except the area to the south of the Huanghe River and over the Changjiang and Huaihe River basin.