Springer Theses Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research
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Springer Theses Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research Zongxing Li Study on Climate Change in Southwestern China Springer Theses Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research Aims and Scope The series “Springer Theses” brings together a selection of the very best Ph.D. theses from around the world and across the physical sciences. Nominated and endorsed by two recognized specialists, each published volume has been selected for its scientific excellence and the high impact of its contents for the pertinent field of research. For greater accessibility to non-specialists, the published versions include an extended introduction, as well as a foreword by the student’s supervisor explaining the special relevance of the work for the field. As a whole, the series will provide a valuable resource both for newcomers to the research fields described, and for other scientists seeking detailed background information on special ques- tions. Finally, it provides an accredited documentation of the valuable contributions made by today’s younger generation of scientists. Theses are accepted into the series by invited nomination only and must fulfill all of the following criteria • They must be written in good English. • The topic should fall within the confines of Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, Engineering and related interdisciplinary fields such as Materials, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Complex Systems and Biophysics. • The work reported in the thesis must represent a significant scientific advance. • If the thesis includes previously published material, permission to reproduce this must be gained from the respective copyright holder. • They must have been examined and passed during the 12 months prior to nomination. • Each thesis should include a foreword by the supervisor outlining the sig- nificance of its content. • The theses should have a clearly defined structure including an introduction accessible to scientists not expert in that particular field. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/8790 Zongxing Li Study on Climate Change in Southwestern China Doctoral Thesis accepted by Cold and Arid Region Environment and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China 123 Author Supervisor Dr. Zongxing Li Prof. Yuanqing He Cold and Arid Region Environment Cold and Arid Region Environment and Engineering Research Institute and Engineering Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou Lanzhou China China ISSN 2190-5053 ISSN 2190-5061 (electronic) ISBN 978-3-662-44741-3 ISBN 978-3-662-44742-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-44742-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2014951737 Springer Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Parts of this thesis have been published in the following journal articles: 1. *Li, Z.X., He, Y.Q., Wang, P.Y., Theakstone, W.H., An, W.L., Wang, X.F., Lu, A.G., Zhang, W., Cao, W.H. (2012): Changes of daily climate extremes in Southwestern China during 1961–2008. Global and Planetary Change, 80–81 (2012):255–272. (Reproduced with Permission) 2. *Li, Z.X., He, Y.Q., An, W.L., Song, L.L., Zhang, W., Norm, C., Wang, Y., Wang, S.J., Liu, H.C., Cao, W.H., Theakstone, W.H., Wang, S.X., Du, J.K. (2011): Climate and glacier change in Southwestern China during the past several decades. Environmental Research Letters, 6 (2011) 045404. (Repro- duced with Permission) 3. *Li, Z.X., Feng, Q., Zhang, W., He, Y.Q., Wang, X.F., Norm, C., An, W.L., Du, J.K., Chen, A.F., Liu, L., Hu, M. (2012): Decreasing trend of sunshine hours and related driving forces in Southwestern China. Theoretical and Applied Clima- tology, 109(2012):305–321. (Reproduced with Permission) 4. Li, Z.X., He, Y.Q., Theakstone, W.H., Wang, X.F., Zhang, W., Cao, W.H., Du, J.K., Xin, H.J., Chang, L. (2012): Altitude dependency of trends of daily climate extremes in Southwestern China, 1961–2008. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 22(3):416–430. (Reproduced with Permission) 5. Yang, X.M., Li, Z.X. (corresponding author), Feng, Q., He, Y.Q., An, W.L., Zhang, W., Cao, W.H., Yu, T.F., Wang, Y.M., Theakstone, W.H. (2012): The decreasing wind speed in Southwestern China during 1969–2008, and possible causes. Quaternary International, 263(2012):71–84. 6. Li, Z.X., He, Y.Q., Pu, T., Jia, W.X., He, X.Z., Pang, H.X., Zhang, N.N., Liu, Q., Wang, S.J., Zhu, G.F., Wang, S.X., Chang, L., Du, J.K., Xin, H.J. (2010): Changes of climate, glaciers and runoff in China’s monsoonal temperate glacier region during the last several decades. Quaternary International, 218 (2010):13–28. (Reproduced with Permission) 7. Li, Z.X., He, Y.Q., Yang, X.M., Theakstone, W.H., Jia, W.X., Pu, T., Liu, Q., He, X.Z., Song, B., Zhang, N.N., Wang, S.J., Du, J.K. (2010): Changes of the Hailuogou glacier, Mt. Gongga, China, against the background of climate change since the Holocene.Quaternary International, 218(2010):166–175. (Reproduced with Permission) Supervisor’s Foreword This study mainly explores the response of climate change in the cold regions of China to the global changes against the background of the monsoon climate. Based on the observation data, this paper systemically researches the spatiotemporal characteristics of climate in Southwestern China in nearly 50 years, and reveals the driving mechanism of climate change. On this basis, this study also delves into the response of the glacier system to climate changes. The main findings in this study are as follows: (1) Through analysis of the records of field observations and previous studies, some changes are found in Southwestern China, including sharp temperature rises, slight interannual variability of the precipitation, obvious extreme climate events, significant decrease in sunshine duration and wind speed. Meanwhile, a close relation between spatial variation of climate and elevation has been confirmed. The research constructs the temporal and spatial patterns of climate change in Southwestern China, which makes up for the deficiency of research on the climate change in the study region, and provides a scientific basis for the establishment of countermeasures about slowing down and adapting to climate change. (2) Aiming at the complexity and uncertainty of climate change in Southwestern China, this study systemically explores the action mechanism between the large-scale atmospheric circulation system, the complicated topography, human activities, and regional climate changes. At the same time, this study reveals the temporal and spatial correlation mechanism between circulation systems and the regional climate changes, confirms the significant influence of the micro- climate effect caused by the topography change to the regional climate change, and evaluates the effects of human activities to climate change, especially the fast urbanization process. These results provide important information for accurate assessment on warming climate and predictions of climate change, and provide a favorable basis for a precipitation in flood season and a forecast of extreme weather. In addition, they improve the level of research on climate change in the cold regions of China, enriching and developing the scientific vii viii Supervisor’s Foreword theory of global climate change. In 2012, the results were published in a magazine called “Global and Planetary Change”. It is particularly pleasing that the results attracted considerable attention compared with others of the same scope, and were included in ESI in 2013. (3) On the basis of the analyses of observation data on glaciers in Southwestern China, this study analyzes the response of glaciers to climate change from three aspects (the morphology of the glacier, glacial mass balance, and the process of hydrology) so that on one hand, it is clear about the responding relationship between glacier morphologic changes such as area, length and ice surface microrelief, and climate changes; and on the other hand, the mechanism of the action of climate warming to balance between energy and matter is uncovered in order to illustrate the effects of acceleration of glacial ablation to climate change and investigate the influence of meltwater on the hydrologic system.