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Spatiotemporal differences in the climatic growing season in the Qinling Mountains of China under the influence of global warming from 1964 to 2015

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Abstract

Based on daily mean temperature data from 32 meteorological stations in the Qinling Mountains (QMs) of China, we analyzed the characteristics and differences of the spatiotemporal changes in the climatic growing season (CGS) in the QMs from 1964 to 2015. Our results are as follows. First, over the past 52 years, the temperature of the QMs significantly increased at a mean rate of 0.22 °C/decade (P < 0.01) in over 98.04% of the area. Significant north–south spatial differences were observed in temperature changes; also, significant differences in the temperature changing trends were observed before and after the abrupt change in temperature. Second, the spatial distributions of the mean growing season start (GSS), end (GSE), and length (GSL) in the QMs varied based on regional differences in latitude and topography. Notably, the GSS, GSE, and GSL were gradually delayed, advanced, and shortened, respectively, as latitude and elevation increased. After the abrupt change in temperature, whether it is in the NSQM (northern slopes of the QMs) or the SSQM (southern slopes of the QMs), the GSS, GSE, and GSL expanded into high-elevation areas. Third, over the past 52 years, the GSS in the QMs exhibited a significant advancing trend of 2.7 days/decade, the GSE was delayed at a rate of 0.66 days/decade, and the GSL displayed a significant extension of 3.36 days/decade. Before the abrupt change in temperature, the GSS, GSE, and GSL exhibited non-significant changing trends; however, the trends in the GSS, GSE, and GSL were more significant after the abrupt change than before. Fourth, the GSS, GSE, and GSL trends in the QMs were significantly different in the NSQM and SSQM regions. After the abrupt change, the GSS, GSE, and GSL trends along the NSQM were more significant than those along the SSQM.

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Funding

This study has been funded by a General Program from China’s Shaanxi Province Scientific Research and Development Plan (No. 2016JM4022) as well as the National Forestry Public Welfare Industry Scientific Research Project of China (No. 201304309).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, No.620, Xichang’an Street, Xi’an, 710119, China

    Chenhui Deng

  2. College of Resource Environment and Historical Culture, Xianyang Normal University, No.1, Wenlin Road, Xianyang, 712000, China

    Chenhui Deng & Xinping Ma

  3. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Northwest University, No.1, Xuefu Avenue, Xi’an, 710127, China

    Hongying Bai, Ting Zhao & Xiaoyue Huang

  4. Xi’an Bureau of Meteorology in Shaanxi Province, No.102-1, Weiyang Street, Xi’an, 710016, China

    Shan Gao

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  1. Chenhui Deng
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  2. Hongying Bai
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  3. Xinping Ma
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  4. Ting Zhao
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  5. Shan Gao
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  6. Xiaoyue Huang
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Correspondence to Chenhui Deng.

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Deng, C., Bai, H., Ma, X. et al. Spatiotemporal differences in the climatic growing season in the Qinling Mountains of China under the influence of global warming from 1964 to 2015. Theor Appl Climatol 138, 1899–1911 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-019-02886-w

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