scholarly journals Climate Transition From Warm-dry to Warm-wet in Eastern Northwest China

Author(s):  
Jinhu Yang ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Guoyang Lu ◽  
Xiaoyun Liu ◽  
Youheng Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract During the second half of the 20th century, eastern Northwest China experienced a warming and drying climate change. To determine whether this trend has continued or changed during the present century, this study systematically analyzes the characteristics of warming and dry–wet changes in eastern Northwest China based on the latest observational data and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) collection data. The results show that eastern Northwest China has warmed continuously during the past 60 years with a sudden temperature change occurring in the late 1990s. However, the temperature in the 2000s decreased slowly, and that in the 2010s showed a warming trend. The amount of precipitation began to increase in the late 1990s, which indicates a contemporary climate transition from warm-dry to warm-wet in eastern Northwest China. The contribution of precipitation to humidity is significantly more than that of temperature. Long-term and interannual variations dominate the temperature change, with the contribution of the former much stronger than that of the latter. However, interannual variation dominates the precipitation change. The warming accelerates from period to period, and the temperature spatial consistently increased during the three most recent climatic periods. The precipitation decreased from 1961–1990 to 1981–2010, whereas its spatial consistency increased from 1981–2010 to 1991–2019. The significant warming and humidification that began in the late 1990s and is expected to continue until the end of the 21st century in the medium emission scenario. However, the current sub-humid climate will not easily be changed. The warming could cause a climate transition from warm temperate to subtropical by 2040. The dry-to-wet climate transition in eastern Northwest China could be related to synergistic enhancement of the East Asian summer monsoon and the westerly circulation. This research provides a scientific decision-making basis for implementing western development strategies, ecological protection, and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin Area as well as that for ecological construction planning and water resource management of eastern Northwest China.

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 548
Author(s):  
Jinhu Yang ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Guoyang Lu ◽  
Xiaoyun Liu ◽  
Youheng Wang ◽  
...  

During the second half of the 20th century, eastern Northwest China experienced a warming and drying climate change. To determine whether this trend has continued or changed during the present century, this study systematically analyzes the characteristics of warming and dry–wet changes in eastern Northwest China based on the latest observational data and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) collection data. The results show that eastern Northwest China has warmed continuously during the past 60 years with a sudden temperature change occurring in the late 1990s. However, the temperature in the 2000s decreased slowly, and that in the 2010s showed a warming trend. The amount of precipitation began to increase in the late 1990s, which indicates a contemporary climate transition from warm-dry to warm-wet in eastern Northwest China. The contribution of precipitation to humidity is significantly more than that of temperature. Long-term and interannual variations dominate the temperature change, with the contribution of the former much stronger than that of the latter. However, interannual variation dominates the precipitation change. The warming accelerates from period to period, and the temperature spatial consistently increased during the three most recent climatic periods. The precipitation decreased from 1961–1990 to 1981–2010, whereas its spatial consistency increased from 1981–2010 to 1991–2019. The significant warming and humidification which began in the late 1990s and is expected to continue until the end of the 21st century in the medium emission scenario. However, the current sub-humid climate will not easily be changed. The warming could cause a climate transition from warm temperate to subtropical by 2040. The dry-to-wet climate transition in eastern Northwest China could be related to a synergistic enhancement of the East Asian summer monsoon and the westerly circulation. This research provides a scientific decision-making basis for implementing western development strategies, ecological protection, and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin Area as well as that for ecological construction planning and water resource management of eastern Northwest China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2799
Author(s):  
Yanping Chen ◽  
Wenzhe Lyu ◽  
Tengfei Fu ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Liang Yi

The Huanghe River (Yellow River) is the most sediment laden river system in the world, and many efforts have been conducted to understand modern deltaic evolution in response to anthropological impacts. However, the natural background and its linkage to climatic changes are less documented in previous studies. In this work, we studied the sediments of core YDZ–3 and marine surface samples by grain-size analysis to retrieve Holocene dynamics of the Huanghe River delta in detail. The main findings are as follows: The mean value of sediment grain size of the studied core is 5.5 ± 0.9 Φ, and silt and sand contents are 5.2 ± 2.3% and 8.2 ± 5.3%, respectively, while the variance of clay particles is relatively large with an average value of 86.4 ± 8.5%. All grain-size data can be mathematically partitioned by a Weibull-based function formula, and three subgroups were identified with modal sizes of 61.1 ± 28.9 μm, 30.0 ± 23.9 μm, and 2.8 ± 1.6 μm, respectively. There are eight intervals with abrupt changes in modal size of core YDZ–3, which can be correlated to paleo-superlobe migration of the Huanghe River in the Holocene. Based on these observations, the presence of seven superlobes in the history are confirmed for the first time and their ages are well constrained in this study, including Paleo-Superlobes Lijin (6400–5280 yr BP), Huanghua (4480–4190 yr BP), Jugezhuang (3880–3660 yr BP), Shajinzi (3070–2870 yr BP), Nigu (2780–2360 yr BP), Qikou (2140–2000 yr BP), and Kenli (1940–1780 and 1700–1650 yr BP). By tuning geomorphological events to a sedimentary proxy derived from core YDZ–3 and comparing to various paleoenvironmental changes, we proposed that winter climate dominated Holocene shifts of the Huanghe River delta on millennial timescales, while summer monsoons controlled deltaic evolution on centennial timescales.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 712
Author(s):  
Kaifeng Li ◽  
Wenhua Gao ◽  
Li Wu ◽  
Hainan Hu ◽  
Panpan Gong ◽  
...  

Obvious spatial expansion of human settlement occurred in the lower Yellow River floodplain during the Longshan period, but the external factors driving this expansion remain unclear. In this study, we first delineated the hydroclimatic changes at both regional and local scales within and around the lower Yellow River floodplain and then examined the relationships of human settlements with hydroclimatic settings between the pre-Longshan and Longshan periods. The results indicate that the site distribution, site density and hydroclimatic conditions exhibited significant shifts during the pre-Longshan and Longshan periods. In the pre-Longshan period, the intense East Asian summer monsoon and abundant monsoon-related precipitation caused widespread development of lakes and marshes in the lower Yellow River floodplain. As a result, the circumjacent highlands of the lower Yellow River floodplain contained concentrated human settlements. However, the persistent weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon and consequent precipitation decline, in conjunction with accelerated soil erosion due to decreasing forest vegetation and strengthening of human activities on the upstream Loess Plateau in the Longshan period, are likely to have jointly caused both shrinking and faster filling of preexisting lakes and marshes. Subsequently, a large area of arable land had been created in the lower Yellow River floodplain and thus was occupied by locally rapid increasing population, resulting in the notable spatial expansion of human settlements during the Longshan period.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiyue Li ◽  
Jianhua Wu ◽  
Hui Qian

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Statistical analyses, a Piper diagram, the saturation index and the correlations of chemical parameters were used to reveal the hydrogeochemistry and hydrogeochemical evolution of shallow groundwater in the southern part of the Zhongwei section of the Yellow River alluvial plain. The water quality for agricultural and domestic uses was also assessed in the study. The results suggest that the shallow groundwater in the study area is fresh to moderately mineralized water. Higher Ca<sup>2+</sup> and HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> are observed in the less mineralized water, whereas Na<sup>+</sup> and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> are common ions in the highly mineralized water. The major hydrochemical facies for groundwater with total dissolved solids (TDS) &lt;1 g/L are HCO<sub>3</sub>-Ca·Mg and HCO<sub>3</sub>-Ca·Na·Mg, and for groundwater with TDS &gt; 1 g/L, SO<sub>4</sub>·Cl-Na and SO<sub>4</sub>·Cl-Na·Mg·Ca are the predominant hydrochemical types. The main reactions in the groundwater system are the dissolution/precipitation of gypsum, fluorite, halite, calcite and dolomite. Cation exchange is also important in controlling the groundwater chemistry. The water samples assessed in the paper are of acceptable quality for agricultural use, but most of them are not fit for direct human consumption (drinking). TDS, total hardness (TH), Cl<sup>-</sup> and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> are the main indices that result in the poor drinking water quality.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><strong>Resumen</strong></p><p>Análisis estadísticos, un diagrama de Piper, el índice de saturación y la correlación de los parámetros químicos fueron utilizados para revelar la hidrogeoquímica y la evolución hidrogeoquímica de las aguas subterráneas poco profundas en la parte sur de la sección Zhongwei en la planicie aluvial del río Amarillo. La calidad del agua para el uso doméstico y agrícola también fue evaluada en este estudio. Los resultados sugieren que las aguas subterráneas poco profundas en el área de estudio son entre frescas y moderadamente mineralizadas. Un índice mayor de Ca2+ y HCO3- se observó en las aguas menos mineralizadas, mientras que Na+ y SO42- son iones comunes en las aguas altamente mineralizadas. Los perfiles hidroquímicos predominantes para las aguas subterráneas con Total de Sólidos Disueltos (TDS) &lt;1 g/L son HCO3-Ca·Mg y HCO3-Ca·Na·Mg, y para las aguas subterráneas con TDS &gt;1 g/L, SO4·Cl-Na y SO4·Cl-Na·Mg·Ca. Las mayores reacciones en el sistema de aguas subterráneas son la disolución/ precipitación de yeso, fluorita, halita, calcita y dolomita. El intercambio de cationes también es importante en el control de la química de las aguas subterráneas. Las muestras de agua evaluadas en este manuscrito son de calidad aceptable para el uso agrícola, pero la mayoría no son aptas para el consumo humano. El índice TDS, la dureza total del agua (TH), Cl- y SO42- son las razones principales que influyen en la baja calidad de esta agua.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chongyi E ◽  
Hongchang Hu ◽  
Hong Xie ◽  
Yongjuan Sun

The study of temperature change and its elevation dependency in the source region of the Yangtze River and Yellow River have been insufficient owing to the lack of adequate observation stations and long-term climatic data. In this study five temperature indices of 32 stations from 1961 to 2007 in and near the source region are used. The 32 stations all have experienced significant warming; the warming amplitudes are higher than the mean warming amplitude of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The warming amplitudes and the numbers of stations showing significant warming trends in mean minimum temperature and extreme minimum temperature are higher than that of the mean maximum temperature and extreme maximum temperature. The elevation dependency of climatic warming and the amount of significant warming stations are not obvious; the influence of human activity and urbanization may be higher. The warming amplitudes of 26 stations above 3000 m tend to be uniform, and there is no significant law at 6 stations below 3000 m. On the contrary, the ratio of stations showing significant warming in minimum temperature above 4000 m is far less than that of the stations below 4000 m.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Chen ◽  
Magdalena Opała-Owczarek ◽  
Piotr Owczarek ◽  
Youping Chen

This study investigates the potential reconstruction of summer monsoon season streamflow variations in the middle reaches of the Yellow River from tree rings in the Qinling Mountains. The regional chronology is significantly positively correlated with the July–October streamflow of the middle Yellow River from 1919 to 1949, and the derived reconstruction explains 36.4% of the actual streamflow variance during this period. High streamflows occurred during 1644–1757, 1795–1806, 1818–1833, 1882–1900, 1909–1920 and 1933–1963. Low streamflows occurred during 1570–1643, 1758–1794, 1807–1817, 1834–1868, 1921–1932 and 1964–2012. High and low streamflow intervals also correspond well to the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity. Some negative correlations of our streamflow reconstruction with Indo-Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) also suggest the linkage of regional streamflow changes to the Asian summer monsoon circulation. Although climate change has some important effects on the variation in streamflow, anthropogenic activities are the primary factors mediating the flow cessation of the Yellow River, based on streamflow reconstruction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-114
Author(s):  
Xiuyan Jing ◽  
Hongbin Yang ◽  
Na Wang

Abstract The chemical evolution of groundwater has received close attention from hydro-geologists. Northwest China largely consists of arid and semi-arid regions, where surface water and groundwater frequently exchange with each other, and where the mixing and water–rock interactions significantly affect the direction of water quality evolution. Based on experimental simulation, this paper investigates the interactions among the Yellow River water, groundwater and rocks in Yinchuan. The study found that when groundwater is mixed with the Yellow River water, the Yellow River water has a certain dilution effect on the hydro-chemical composition of groundwater; however, this effect is not simply diluted by proportion for no reaction between irons, but a portion of calcium, sulfur, and carbonate form precipitates. After mixing of the Yellow River water, groundwater and rocks, the pH increased, and the carbon dioxide system reached equilibrium again. In addition, CO32− was produced. While Na+ increase was mainly due to dissolution, SO42− decrease was because of precipitation. The precipitation or dissolution of Ca2+, Mg2+, and CO32− mainly depended on the mixing ratio between groundwater and river water, which suggested the reversible behavior of the dissolution-precipitation of carbonate minerals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 120 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 239-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongsheng Chen ◽  
Yaning Chen ◽  
Jianhua Xu ◽  
Ling Bai

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Liu ◽  
Mengyang Shen ◽  
Jianping Zhao ◽  
Heng Dai ◽  
Dongwei Gui ◽  
...  

Oases are vital habitat areas for both humans and wild plants and animals in desert areas of arid Northwestern China. The efficient management of oasis water resources, especially groundwater resources, is very important for the environmental sustainability and economic development of the region. Pumping wells play a vital role in the oasis groundwater supply; therefore, optimizing the layout of these wells is essential for water resource management. In this study, we present a novel optimization methodology that implements a genetic algorithm and nonlinear programming model for the layout of pumping wells. The methodology was tested and evaluated in the real oasis case study of Qira Oasis located in southern Xinjiang Province, China. The optimization result shows that only 68 pumping wells are required for irrigation purposes of Qira Oasis, and this layout reduces the number of current pumping wells strongly by 59%. Thus, a large number of pumping wells can be closed to save resources. The optimizing method presented in this research is mathematically general and can be applied to other oasis areas without any obstacles. This method can provide decision-makers and managers with key information to ensure the optimal management and safety of valuable groundwater resources in oases.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document