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Spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation regimes in the Huai River basin, China, and possible relations with ENSO events

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Abstract

Under the influence of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Southern Oscillation Index events, changes in precipitation intensity and duration thereon in both space and time in the Huai River basin, China, are investigated. Different behaviors of precipitation intensity and duration during different ENSO episodes were also analyzed, and significance of these changes was evaluated using Mann–Whitney U test method. Results of this study indicate that: (1) the north Huai River basin is dominated by decreasing precipitation, specifically in the Yi-Shu-Si River basin, and increasing precipitation in the south Huai River basin. Increasing number of annual maximum consecutive dry days, decreasing number of annual maximum consecutive wet days (MCD) and decreasing precipitation amount of annual maximum consecutive wet days (MCP) indicate a drying tendency in the northern parts of the Huai River basin, implying intensifying droughts. However, a wetting tendency is observed in the southeast parts of the Huai River basin as a result of increasing annual total precipitation amount and increasing MCD and MCP; (2) the influence of Eastern Pacific Warming (EPW), Central Pacific Warming (CPW) and Eastern Pacific Cooling (EPC) on heavy precipitation and rainstorms is evident. There is more significant influence of EPC on rainstorms. EPW and CPW cause a higher risk of flooding in the south Huai River basin, whereas EPC causes a higher risk of flooding in the north Huai River basin; (3) longer-lasting precipitation events are observed to be decreasing during the EPC and CPW periods, whereas occurrences of longer-lasting precipitation events are found to be increasing during the EPW period. This study is of practical value in planning and management of agricultural irrigation and water resources and helps understand the influence of ENSO events on precipitation regimes in the Huai River basin, China.

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Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (Grant No. 51425903), the Natural Foundation of Anhui Province (Grant No. 1508085MD65), and is fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. CUHK441313). Detailed information such as data can be obtained by writing to the corresponding author at zhangq68@mail.sysu.edu.cn. Our cordial gratitude should be extended to the editor, Prof. Dr. T. S. Murty, and two reviewers for their professional comments and pertinent revision suggestions which are greatly helpful for further improvement of the quality of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Resources and Environment, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Yue Wang & Qiang Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Water Security in Southern China of Guangdong High Education Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Yue Wang & Qiang Zhang

  3. School of Environmental Science and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China

    Yue Wang

  4. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Vijay P. Singh

  5. Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Vijay P. Singh

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  1. Yue Wang
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  2. Qiang Zhang
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Correspondence to Qiang Zhang.

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Wang, Y., Zhang, Q. & Singh, V.P. Spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation regimes in the Huai River basin, China, and possible relations with ENSO events. Nat Hazards 82, 2167–2185 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2303-3

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