Warming intensifies severe drought over China from 1980 to 2019. (14th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yujia; Guo, Mengjing; Bai, Peng; Li, Jing; Liu, Lu; Tian, Wei
• Is Part Of: International journal of climatology. Volume 43:Number 4(2023)
• Page Start: 1980
• Page End: 1992
• Publication Date: 2022-12-14
• Subjects: China -- climate change -- drought -- self‐calibrating PDSI -- warming; Climatology -- Periodicals; Climat -- Périodiques; Climatologie -- Périodiques; 551.605
• DOI: 10.1002/joc.7957
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-8418

Abstract

Abstract: Climate warming is steadily increasing drought risk in many regions of the world. However, the contribution of warming over the past few decades to drought evolution in China remains unclear. This study used the self‐calibrating Palmer drought severity index (sc‐PDSI) and a detrending experiment to quantify the contribution of warming to severe drought (sc‐PDSI < −3.0) characteristics (intensity, frequency, and duration) over China from 1980 to 2019. Differences in drought characteristics calculated from original and detrended temperature data were attributed to warming effects. The results showed that 93.8% of areas in China have experienced a significant ( p < .05) warming trend from 1980 to 2019. Warming remarkably intensified severe drought characteristics across China. Without warming, the extent, frequency, and duration of severe droughts in China would reduce by 2.04%, 2.0%, and 0.82 months. In addition, there are apparent regional differences in the response of severe drought characteristics to warming. Severe drought characteristics in high elevations and high latitudes are more sensitive to warming than in other regions. Abstract : Significant ( p < .05) warming trend occurred in 93.8% of China's areas from 1980 to 2019. Without warming, the area, frequency, and duration of severe droughts in China would reduce by 2.04%, 2.0%, and 0.82 months. Severe drought characteristics in high altitudes and high latitudes are more sensitive to warming than in other regions.