Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (3): 684-697.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.03.03

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Assessment of CRU, ERA5, CMFD grid precipitation data for the Tibetan Plateau from 1979 to 2017

WEN Tingting(),GUO Yingxiang(),DONG Shaorui,DONG Yuanzhen,LAI Xiaoling   

  1. Qinghai Climate Centre, Xining 810001, Qinghai, China
  • Received:2021-08-17 Revised:2021-10-27 Online:2022-05-15 Published:2022-05-30
  • Contact: Yingxiang GUO E-mail:790662339@qq.com;526159561@qq.com

Abstract:

In this paper, CRU, ERA5, and CMFD precipitation data for the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau were evaluated on annual and seasonal scales and compared with observed precipitation data from 131 weather stations. (1) The three data types all showed a strong ability to describe total annual precipitation on the plateau, and their correlation coefficients with the observed values were all >0.9. Results from all three models were generally higher than observed precipitation. CRU and CMFD results were closest to observed values in spring, while CMFD results were closest to the observed values in summer and fall; all three models showed the weakest correlations with observed values for winter precipitation. (2) In terms of precipitation distribution, CMFD data had the best ability to simulate plateau precipitation annually, and in spring, summer, and winter. The models showed regional differences in describing fall precipitation. CRU and CMFD results were closest to observed values on the western plateau. (3) Plateau precipitation increased during spring, summer, and fall, especially in the summer, and decreased in the winter. (4) The annual and seasonal variation (spring, summer, and fall) in the CRU data was consistent with that of the observed data, and the winter precipitation results from ERA5 were consistent with observed values. (5) The deviation between CMFD results and observed annual and seasonal precipitation was the smallest. (6) Time series analysis showed that CMFD annual, spring, summer, and fall precipitation results were closest to the observed values, followed by CRU. CMFD winter precipitation results were closest to the observed values, but the correlation coefficient failed the significance test of 95%.

Key words: Tibetan Plateau, precipitation, grid precipitation data, application assessment