Phenological data obtained from historical documents constitute highly important ecological evidence for the pre-instrumental period, and can be used in analyzing climatic change in history. In this study, 87 phenolog...Phenological data obtained from historical documents constitute highly important ecological evidence for the pre-instrumental period, and can be used in analyzing climatic change in history. In this study, 87 phenological records about seasonality of non-biological events （e.g., first frost date）, agriculture and ornamental plants （e.g., first flowering date） over 77 years were extracted from historical documents from the Sui and Tang dynasties in China to reconstruct the winter half-year （from October to next April） temperatures in the Guanzhong Area （located in central China） from 600 to 902 AD. Transfer functions between temperature and phenophases with significant correlations were established by using modem observation data. Temperatures from the study period were reconstructed by applying the transfer functions to historical phenological data. The reconstruction indicates that the winter half-year temperatures during 600-902 AD were 0.23~C higher than the reference period （1961-1990）. The temperature changed with two distinct stages. During the 600s-800s, temperatures were approxi- mately 0.38~C higher than at present but then temperatures decreased in the subsequent period （800-902 AD）. These results are similar to ones from previous studies on the mean temperature and the divisions between warm and cold periods during the study period, though differences were found in the degree of warmness/coldness. This reconstruction provides a valuable contribution to a better understanding of climatic variability during the Sui and Tang dynasties in China.展开更多
Using historical records on first and last frost and snow,spring cultivation,David peach blossom,autumn crop harvest,grade of sea freeze and change in northern citrus boundary,we reconstructed temperature change durin...Using historical records on first and last frost and snow,spring cultivation,David peach blossom,autumn crop harvest,grade of sea freeze and change in northern citrus boundary,we reconstructed temperature change during 601-920 AD.The mean temperature of the winter half-year(October to April)over Central East China during this period was about-0.22°C higher than that of the present(1961-2000 AD mean).During 601-820 AD,mean temperature was about-0.52°C higher than the present.During 821-920 AD,the mean temperature was 0.42°C lower than the present.The temperature fluctuations were characterized by a maximum amplitude of 1.05°C at the centennial scale,1.38°C at the 50-year scale,2.02°C at the 30-year scale,and 2.3°C at the 20-year scale.There were four peaks warmer than today(601-620 AD,mean of 1°C higher temperature;641-660 AD,1.44°C;701-720 AD,0.88°C;781-800 AD,0.65°C).Three cold periods were in 741-760,821-840,and 881-900 AD,the mean temperature of which was 0.37-0.87°C lower than the present.展开更多
基金supported by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41171043)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB955304)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41430528)
文摘Phenological data obtained from historical documents constitute highly important ecological evidence for the pre-instrumental period, and can be used in analyzing climatic change in history. In this study, 87 phenological records about seasonality of non-biological events （e.g., first frost date）, agriculture and ornamental plants （e.g., first flowering date） over 77 years were extracted from historical documents from the Sui and Tang dynasties in China to reconstruct the winter half-year （from October to next April） temperatures in the Guanzhong Area （located in central China） from 600 to 902 AD. Transfer functions between temperature and phenophases with significant correlations were established by using modem observation data. Temperatures from the study period were reconstructed by applying the transfer functions to historical phenological data. The reconstruction indicates that the winter half-year temperatures during 600-902 AD were 0.23~C higher than the reference period （1961-1990）. The temperature changed with two distinct stages. During the 600s-800s, temperatures were approxi- mately 0.38~C higher than at present but then temperatures decreased in the subsequent period （800-902 AD）. These results are similar to ones from previous studies on the mean temperature and the divisions between warm and cold periods during the study period, though differences were found in the degree of warmness/coldness. This reconstruction provides a valuable contribution to a better understanding of climatic variability during the Sui and Tang dynasties in China.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX2-YW-Q1-01and KZCX2-YW-315)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40625002)
文摘Using historical records on first and last frost and snow,spring cultivation,David peach blossom,autumn crop harvest,grade of sea freeze and change in northern citrus boundary,we reconstructed temperature change during 601-920 AD.The mean temperature of the winter half-year(October to April)over Central East China during this period was about-0.22°C higher than that of the present(1961-2000 AD mean).During 601-820 AD,mean temperature was about-0.52°C higher than the present.During 821-920 AD,the mean temperature was 0.42°C lower than the present.The temperature fluctuations were characterized by a maximum amplitude of 1.05°C at the centennial scale,1.38°C at the 50-year scale,2.02°C at the 30-year scale,and 2.3°C at the 20-year scale.There were four peaks warmer than today(601-620 AD,mean of 1°C higher temperature;641-660 AD,1.44°C;701-720 AD,0.88°C;781-800 AD,0.65°C).Three cold periods were in 741-760,821-840,and 881-900 AD,the mean temperature of which was 0.37-0.87°C lower than the present.
