Decadal Variation Characteristics of Surface Wind Speed in Northwest China during 1979 -2020

Abstract

Using the observation data of 10 m surface wind speed at 173 meteorological stations in Northwest China from 1979 to 2020 and the ERA-5 reanalysis data， this study investigated the interdecadal variation characteristics of annual and seasonal surface wind speed in Northwest China and displayed the background circulation changes of interdecadal variation in 2003/2004.There are significant regional differences in the trend distribution of surface wind speed during 1979 -2020.The stations of the wind speed with increasing trend were mainly located in central and eastern Gansu， Shaanxi， southwest and northeastern parts of Xinjiang.The others stations generally showed the negative trends of wind speed.The number of the stations with decreasing trends of surface wind speed were obvious larger than that with decreasing trends.The average surface wind speed in the stations with decreasing （increasing） trends were larger （smaller） than that in whole northwest China.The distribution of the annual and four-season leading mode of surface wind speed were generally opposite to the trend distribution from 1979 to 2020.All the PC1s experienced the decadal shift around 2000.The second mode showed positive anomalies over the Ningxia Province and southern Shaanxi Province and negative over others regions.The PC2s both witnessed the decadal shifts in 1987/1988 and 2003/2004.Numerical studies investigated the decadal shift of surface wind speed northwest China in 1987/1988.Therefore， this study focuses on analyzing the possible circulation background of the decadal shift of northwest wind speed in 2003/2004.The composite difference of 500 hPa and 200 hPa geopotential heights between 2004 -2020 and 1988 -2003 presents the meridional dipole mode of Central Asia-Northern Europe in spring， the "Silk Road Pattern" in summer and autumn， the "Scandinavian" mode in winter， and the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation in annual field.The circulation changes in four seasons and annual averages have their own characteristics.It needs further studies of the physical process of the influences of these circulation factors on the decadal shift of the surface wind speed in northwest China in 2003/2004.

Keywords

• surface wind speed
• temporal and spatial distribution
• interdecadal variation
• northwest china
• trend