Are Droughts Becoming More Frequent or Severe in China Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index: 1951–2010?

Authors

Meixiu Yu, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
Qiongfang Li, Hohai University, Nanjing, ChinaFollow
Michael J. Hayes, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mark Svoboda, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Richard R. Heim Jr., United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

5-2014

Citation

International Journal of Climatology (2014) 34: 545–558

doi: 10.1002/joc.3701

Comments

This article is a United States government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

Abstract

The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was computed based on the monthly precipitation and air temperature values at 609 locations over China during the period 1951–2010.Various characteristics of drought across China were examined including: long-term trends, percentage of area affected, intensity, duration, and drought frequency. The results revealed that severe and extreme droughts have become more serious since late 1990s for all of China (with dry area increasing by ∼3.72% per decade); and persistent multi-year severe droughts were more frequent in north China, northeast China, and western northwest China; significant drying trends occurred over north China, the southwest region of northeast China, central and eastern regions of northwest China, the central and southwestern parts of southwest China and southwestern and northeastern parts of the western northwest region mainly due to a decrease in precipitation coupled with a general increase in temperature. In addition, north China, western northwest China, and southwest China had their longest drought durations during the 1990s and 2000s. Droughts also affected the western northwest, eastern northwest, north, and northeast regions of China more frequently during the recent three decades. The results of this article could provide certain references and triggers for establishing a drought early warning system in China.