Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 1357-1368.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.08.01

• Weather and Climate • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and impacts of extreme precipitation in the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program region

JIANG Anyao1,2(), CHEN Ruishan1,2,3, ZHENG Lilin1,2(), GUO Xiaona1,2, SUN Nansha1,2, LI Yinshuai1,2   

  1. 1. School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
    2. Digital Engineering Technology Innovation Center for Territorial Ecological Governance, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai 200240, China
    3. Inner Mongolia Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Hohhot 010010, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2025-05-29 Revised:2025-07-08 Online:2025-08-15 Published:2025-11-24

Abstract:

The Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TNSFP), a major ecological engineering initiative in China, faces growing challenges from shifting precipitation patterns. This study utilizes daily precipitation data from 323 meteorological stations across the TNSFP region. The percentile threshold method was used to define extreme precipitation thresholds, calculate relevant indices, and analyze their spatiotemporal evolution. The results Show that (1) Distinct south-north gradient in annual precipitation, with amounts decreasing from the southeast to the northwest. The spatiotemporal distribution of extreme precipitation is closely linked to topography. (2) Southeastern areas exhibit higher extreme precipitation totals, though these show a declining trend. In contrast, the number of extreme precipitation days and their contribution rate have significantly increased in the northwest. (3) Cluster analysis highlights that the intensification of extreme precipitation is concentrated in specific regions, the southern foothills of the Greater Hinggan Mountains, the Qilian Mountains, and the Tianshan-Altai Mountains. In these areas, extreme precipitation accounts for one-third to one-half of annual rainfall. The likely drivers of this intensification include Arctic warming, westerly belt fluctuations, and topographic uplift: demonstrating the complex interactions between large-scale climate patterns and regional geographic features that shape observed trends. These findings have significant implications for the ongoing management and resilience of the TNSFP. Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of extreme precipitation is essential for developing effective strategies. This research provides valuable insights for anticipating future climate impacts and formulating disaster prevention and mitigation measures.

Key words: climate change, extreme precipitation, cluster analysis, spatiotemporal sequence analysis, Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program