Abstract:
Based on the monthly temperature (average, maximum and minimum), precipitation and wind speed data observed at 50 stations on the Qinghai Plateau from 1961 to 2020, the temporal and spatial distribution and interdecadal trend turning of climate change on the Qinghai Plateau are analyzed by using piecewise linear fitting model (PLFIM) and climate tendency rate. The results show that: (1) the temperature (average, maximum and minimum) of the Qinghai Plateau showed a significant upward trend from 1961 to 2020, among which the rate of warming of the minimum temperature was particularly obvious, with an average increase of 0.62 ℃ per decade. Precipitation showed a fluctuating upward trend, and increased significantly after entering the 21st century, with a rate of 39.9 mm·(10a)-1. Wind speed showed a decreasing trend, among which the wind speed at Mangya Station was the most obvious, with a decrease rate of -0.56 m·s-1·(10a)-1. (2) The average and maximum temperatures of the Qinghai Plateau experienced interdecadal trend turning in 1972 and 1983, the third turning in maximum temperature occurred in 2009, and no significant interdecadal trend turning occurred in minimum temperature. Interdecadal trend turning in precipitation occurred in 1972, 1983 and 2000. The interdecadal trend turning of wind speed occurred in 1971, 1998 and 2009. (3) Compared with the previous climate state (1961-1990), the annual average, maximum and minimum temperatures increased by 1.16 ℃, 1.22 ℃ and 1.81 ℃ respectively, from 1991 to 2020, and the probability density distribution was flatter, indicating that the temperature dispersion was greater and the climate instability was enhanced. (4) Under the background of global warming, the average temperature and precipitation on the Qinghai Plateau increased in the past 60 years, with the average temperature increasing rate much greater than those of the global, China and the same latitude regions. Interannual fluctuations in precipitation were large, but the overall trend was increasing.