Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-152
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-152
10 Sep 2019
 | 10 Sep 2019
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal TC but the revision was not accepted.

Snow cover variations across China from 1952–2012

Xiaodong Huang, Changyu Liu, Yunlong Wang, Qisheng Feng, and Tiangang Liang

Abstract. Based on a snow depth (SD) dataset retrieved from meteorological stations, this experiment explored snow indices including SD, snow covered days (SCDs), and snow phenology variations in China from 1952 to 2012. The results indicated that the snow in China exhibits regional differences, and the snow cover is mainly concentrated in three snow cover areas in Northeast China, northern Xinjiang and the Tibetan Plateau. In China, the annual average SD showed an increasing trend, and the increases in the average snow depth (SDaverage), cumulative snow depth (SDoverall) and maximum snow depth (SDmax) reached 0.04 cm, 0.05 cm and 0.07 cm per decade, respectively. The significant increases were mainly concentrated in areas higher than 40° N latitude, especially in Northeast China. The SDaverage, SDoveralland SDmax jump points are mainly in 1956, 1957, 1978, and 1987. In the first main period, the SDoverall oscillation in China is relatively stable, and its average period is approximately 13 years. The SCDs showed an increasing trend, with an increase of 0.5 days per decade. The significant increases in SCDs were also concentrated in areas higher than 40° N latitude, especially in Northeast China.However, in the Tibetan Plateau, the decrease in the SCDs reached 0.1 days per decade. In snow phenology, the snow duration days (SDDs) of China decreased, and 17.4 % of the meteorological stations showed significant decreasing trends. This result is mainly caused by the postponement of the snow onset date (SOD) and the advancement of the snow end date (SED). Geographical factors, including latitude, longitude and altitude, affect snow cover distribution directly and indirectly. The squared multiple correlations of SDDs and SCDs are greater than 0.9. Among the effects of SDDs and SCDs, the largest standardized total effect is from altitude on the SDDs, and the effect reaches 0.8.

Xiaodong Huang, Changyu Liu, Yunlong Wang, Qisheng Feng, and Tiangang Liang
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Xiaodong Huang, Changyu Liu, Yunlong Wang, Qisheng Feng, and Tiangang Liang
Xiaodong Huang, Changyu Liu, Yunlong Wang, Qisheng Feng, and Tiangang Liang

Viewed

Total article views: 1,305 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
901 339 65 1,305 65 70
  • HTML: 901
  • PDF: 339
  • XML: 65
  • Total: 1,305
  • BibTeX: 65
  • EndNote: 70
Views and downloads (calculated since 10 Sep 2019)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 10 Sep 2019)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,123 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,120 with geography defined and 3 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Latest update: 28 Mar 2024
Download
Short summary
(a) Long term snow cover variation across China was evaluated (b) There are three major snow cover distribution centers in China (c) Snow depth showed an increasing trend, and four jump points between 1952 and 2012. (d) Snow depth oscillation period is 13 years. (e) Snow onset day delayed, and snow end day advanced.