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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 30, NO. 17, 1913, doi:10.1029/2003GL018004, 2003

Trends in temperature extremes during 1951–1999 in China

Panmao Zhai

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China


Xiaohua Pan

National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China


Abstract

Based on the daily surface air temperature data from about 200 stations during 1951–1999 in China, changes in the frequency of some extreme temperature events were studied with a focus on trends. For China as a whole, the number of hot days (Tmax over 35°C) displays a slightly decreasing trend, while the number of frost days (Tmin below 0°C) exhibits a significant decreasing trend. Meanwhile, increasing trends were detected in the frequencies of warm days and warm nights. In addition, decreasing trends was found in the frequencies of cool days and even stronger decreasing trend was found in frequencies of cool nights in China.

Received 19 June 2003; accepted 7 August 2003; published 13 September 2003.

Index Terms: 0325 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Evolution of the atmosphere; 1610 Global Change: Atmosphere (0315, 0325); 1630 Global Change: Impact phenomena; 3309 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Climatology (1620).


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Citation: Zhai, P., and X. Pan (2003), Trends in temperature extremes during 1951–1999 in China, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(17), 1913, doi:10.1029/2003GL018004.