Spatial and Temporal Variations in Extreme Precipitation and Temperature Events in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China over the Past Six Decades

Runze Tong, Wenchao Sun, Quan Han, Jingshan Yu and Zaifeng Tian
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Runze Tong: Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Wenchao Sun: Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Quan Han: Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Jingshan Yu: Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Zaifeng Tian: Hebei Provincial Laboratory of Water Environmental Science, Hebei Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Shijiazhuang 050051, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Extreme weather events can cause a lot of damage in highly populated regions, such as in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region (BTHR) in northern China. To understand where and how extreme precipitation and temperature events are changing within the BTHR, data for 1959–2018 from 25 mereological stations were used to detect trends in the intensity, frequency, and duration of these events. The results showed that intensity, accumulated amount, the duration of extreme precipitation events, and the annual number of days with precipitation greater than 50 mm decreased on a regional scale over this 60-year period. Changes in extreme precipitation events at most stations were not statistically significant, although a few stations had a significant downward trend. The combined effects of the East Asian summer monsoon and rapid urbanization are possible reasons for these trends. Both the annual maximum and minimum temperature increased on a regional and local scale. The frequency of extreme hot and cold weather also, respectively, increased and decreased, with consistent patterns on a regional and local scale. However, the spatial changes of these trends were different, reflecting the effects of irrigation and urbanization on the regional surface energy balance. These findings are valuable to decisionmakers involved in disaster prevention in the BTHR and in other highly populated regions worldwide.

Keywords: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region; extreme temperature event; extreme precipitation event; temporal trends (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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