[Climate change characteristics in Chinese boreal forest region from 1954 to 2005].

Abstract

In this paper, the change characteristics of air temperature and precipitation in Chinese boreal forest (Larix gmelinii) region from 1954 to 2005 were analyzed, based on the data from eight meteorological stations. The results showed that from 1954 to 2005, the mean annual air temperature in the region increased in a rate of 0.38 degrees C x (10 a)(-1), being significantly higher than the global average value during recent 50 years (0.13 degrees C x (10 a) (-1)). The increasing trend of the temperature appeared in all four seasons, but was only significant in winter and spring (P <0.01). Both the maximum and the minimum mean annual temperatures increased significantly (P <0.01), and the increasing rate was about 0.37 degrees C x (10 a)(-1) and 0.54 degrees C x (10 a)(-1), respectively. The annual precipitation varied obviously among years, but no significant trend was observed at yearly and seasonal scales. Precipitation days increased but not significantly in spring, autumn and winter, while decreased significantly in summer (P <0.05). The precipitation intensity increased in all four seasons, and was only significant in summer (P <0.05) and winter (P <0.01).