416
18 Climatic Change and Water Resources
(Yang 2002). In the Yellow River source region, precipitation decreased from
1956 to 2003 (Wei et al. 2006); from 1961 to 2017, there was a slight increase
and changes happened in 2002 (Ma et al. 2019). In Jinzhong, Shanxi Province,
precipitation decreased at a rate of 35.9 mm/10 a (Ma et al. 2007).
• In the Qilian Mountains, according to 50-year datasets from five meteorological
stations above 2,800 m in altitude, precipitation in the mountains increased, with
less precipitation in the 1960s and 1970s and more in the last 20 years. Precipitation increased more in the spring and summer, particularly in the western section
of the mountains (Yin et al. 2009). In the Shiyang River Basin, annual average
precipitation has increased 18.2 mm, with a percentage of 5.8% since 1951 (Huang
et al. 2008; Li et al. 2008). In the Hei River Basin in Gansu Province, precipitation
in the 1990s increased 18.5 mm compared to the 1950s and 6.5 mm compared to
1960–1990. Water resources in the 1990s decreased 260 million m
3 compared to
the 1950s and 40 million m
3 in the 1990s compared to 1960–1990 (Zhang 2008).
The nearby Hexi Corridor saw a significant increase in annual precipitation from
1960 to 2017 at a rate of 8.72 mm/10 a (Wang et al. 2020).
• In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, data collected between 1951 and 2006
from 12 meteorological stations indicated that precipitation was less than average
from the middle of the 1960s to the end of the 1980s, while after the 1990s
precipitation has continuously increased (Cao et al. 2009). In the Yarkent River,
Karakorm, precipitation generally increased from 1960 to 1990 (Sun et al. 2008).
In North Xinjiang, according to datasets collected between 1951 and 2006 from
five stations, precipitation began to increase in the early 1980s (Cao et al. 2008).
In the Tianshan Mountains, there was a significant increase with 18.8 mm/10
a. In the Tarim River Basin, based on precipitation data from the past 50 years,
precipitation showed a significant increase in the 1980s and 1990s, and the average
annual precipitation showed an increase at a magnitude of 6.8 mm/10 a (Chen and
Xu 2004; Jiang and Xia 2007). In the Irtysh River Basin, precipitation generally
increased from 1948 to 1995 (Li 2008). In the Aksu River, precipitation increased
from 1961 to 2000 (Zhang 2008). At the same time, several studies found that 1986
marked a shift toward an increase in rainfall and snow days as well as extremes
in the Tianshan Mountains (PU et al. 2008; Tian et al. 2020).
• In the Tao’er River Basin in the western side of Northeast China, precipitation
increased from 1961–2000 (Jiang et al. 2009). On the right bank of the Nen River
Basin, 1961–1982 was a period of less precipitation, while 1982–1999 was a
period of increased precipitation that was then followed again by less precipitation
(Yang et al. 2008). In Hulun Lake, precipitation decreased from 1961 to 2005
(Zhao et al. 2007).
In summarizing regional precipitation changes in China, it could be concluded
that in the past 50 years, annual precipitation increased in East China, South China,
and the western part of Northeast China and West China. A significant increase in
West China was observed, whereas the core area around North China—including
18 Climatic Change and Water Resources
(Yang 2002). In the Yellow River source region, precipitation decreased from
1956 to 2003 (Wei et al. 2006); from 1961 to 2017, there was a slight increase
and changes happened in 2002 (Ma et al. 2019). In Jinzhong, Shanxi Province,
precipitation decreased at a rate of 35.9 mm/10 a (Ma et al. 2007).
• In the Qilian Mountains, according to 50-year datasets from five meteorological
stations above 2,800 m in altitude, precipitation in the mountains increased, with
less precipitation in the 1960s and 1970s and more in the last 20 years. Precipitation increased more in the spring and summer, particularly in the western section
of the mountains (Yin et al. 2009). In the Shiyang River Basin, annual average
precipitation has increased 18.2 mm, with a percentage of 5.8% since 1951 (Huang
et al. 2008; Li et al. 2008). In the Hei River Basin in Gansu Province, precipitation
in the 1990s increased 18.5 mm compared to the 1950s and 6.5 mm compared to
1960–1990. Water resources in the 1990s decreased 260 million m
3 compared to
the 1950s and 40 million m
3 in the 1990s compared to 1960–1990 (Zhang 2008).
The nearby Hexi Corridor saw a significant increase in annual precipitation from
1960 to 2017 at a rate of 8.72 mm/10 a (Wang et al. 2020).
• In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, data collected between 1951 and 2006
from 12 meteorological stations indicated that precipitation was less than average
from the middle of the 1960s to the end of the 1980s, while after the 1990s
precipitation has continuously increased (Cao et al. 2009). In the Yarkent River,
Karakorm, precipitation generally increased from 1960 to 1990 (Sun et al. 2008).
In North Xinjiang, according to datasets collected between 1951 and 2006 from
five stations, precipitation began to increase in the early 1980s (Cao et al. 2008).
In the Tianshan Mountains, there was a significant increase with 18.8 mm/10
a. In the Tarim River Basin, based on precipitation data from the past 50 years,
precipitation showed a significant increase in the 1980s and 1990s, and the average
annual precipitation showed an increase at a magnitude of 6.8 mm/10 a (Chen and
Xu 2004; Jiang and Xia 2007). In the Irtysh River Basin, precipitation generally
increased from 1948 to 1995 (Li 2008). In the Aksu River, precipitation increased
from 1961 to 2000 (Zhang 2008). At the same time, several studies found that 1986
marked a shift toward an increase in rainfall and snow days as well as extremes
in the Tianshan Mountains (PU et al. 2008; Tian et al. 2020).
• In the Tao’er River Basin in the western side of Northeast China, precipitation
increased from 1961–2000 (Jiang et al. 2009). On the right bank of the Nen River
Basin, 1961–1982 was a period of less precipitation, while 1982–1999 was a
period of increased precipitation that was then followed again by less precipitation
(Yang et al. 2008). In Hulun Lake, precipitation decreased from 1961 to 2005
(Zhao et al. 2007).
In summarizing regional precipitation changes in China, it could be concluded
that in the past 50 years, annual precipitation increased in East China, South China,
and the western part of Northeast China and West China. A significant increase in
West China was observed, whereas the core area around North China—including