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Global extreme precipitation characteristics: the perspective of climate and large river basins

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Abstract

With global warming, extreme weather frequently and severely appears globally. Extreme precipitation is one of the extreme weather events that can cause many natural disasters, such as floods and waterlogging. In this study, Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) daily precipitation data were used to investigate extreme precipitation and its contribution to annual precipitation in different global climate regions and typical river basins. The climate types included equatorial climates (EC), arid climates (AC), warm temperate climates (WTC), snowy climates (SC) and polar climates (PC). R99p, Rx5day, CWD and R20 was selected as extreme precipitation indices in this study; extreme precipitation days were defined by CWD and R20. The results showed that EC and WTC had higher extreme precipitation level; SC and PC had lower extreme precipitation amounts and days than AC. R99p, Rx5day and CWD monitored higher extreme precipitation contribution degrees in AC; however, R20 monitored higher contribution degrees in EC and WTC. R99p, Rx5day and CWD showed higher extreme precipitation contribution degrees in North Africa, the Middle East, Australia and northwestern China; R20 showed higher contribution degrees in South America, the southeastern United States and South Asia. Based on historical observational data, Heilongjiang Basin (HB), Yellow River Basin (YERB), Yangtze River Basin (YARB), Ganges River Basin (GRB), Danube River Basin (DRB) and Mekong River Basin (MERB) had high-frequency extreme precipitation in summer. The research results are helpful for understanding the characteristics of extreme precipitation and provide a reference for flood control and disaster reduction in different climatic regions and main river basins.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to Institutional confidentiality regulations and personal intentions but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 52179015), and the Key Technologies R & D and Promotion program of Henan (232102110025).

Funding

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 52179015), and the Key Technologies R & D and Promotion program of Henan (232102110025).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China

    Lili Zhao, Lusheng Li, Yanbin Li, Peiwen Yang & Xiaomeng Liu

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China

    Zhaoqiang Zhou

  3. College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Huayu Zhong

  4. Yellow River Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd, Zhengzhou, 450003, China

    Yibo Ding

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  1. Lili Zhao
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Contributions

Methodology: LZ; Formal analysis: YL, LL; Validation: PY, LZ, XL; Supervision: LZ, LL, ZZ, YD; Writing - original draft: YD, YL, ZZ; Writing - review & editing: HZ, LZ.

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Correspondence to Lusheng Li.

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Zhao, L., Li, L., Li, Y. et al. Global extreme precipitation characteristics: the perspective of climate and large river basins. Clim Dyn 62, 1013–1030 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-023-06961-x

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