%0 Journal Article %A Mansur Sabit %T Climatic Characteristics of Cold Wave and Its Impact on Agriculture in Southern Xinjiang in Recent 60 Years %D 2012 %R 10.11849/zrzyxb.2012.12.015 %J JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES %P 2145-2152 %V 27 %N 12 %X

The cold wave is one of the main natural disasters in Xinjiang. Because of sparse vegetation cover, large temperate difference and strong cold air mass to the south, it is easy to form cold wave. This paper analyzed the spatial distribution, seasonal and annual changes and forming reasons of the cold wave based on the data of cold wave frequency, duration and its impact on cropland, livestock and economic damage encompassing from 1949 to 2008 in five districts in southern Xinjiang. The results showed that: 1)In recent 60 years, the occurrence of cold wave in mountain areas in southern Xinjiang is more frequent than that in plain area, northern part more than southern part, and the magnitude of cold wave induced temperature drop at southern foot hills of the Tianshan Mountains is greater than in the northern mountain area. According to special distribution, the maximum frequency of the cold wave took place in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, and then in Aksu Prefecture, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture and Hotan Prefecture in turns. Kashgar Prefecture is in an intermediate place. 2)In recent 60 years, annual variation of cold wave frequency is pronounced, and it displayed a decreasing trend, especially, since 1999. The cold wave is strong from September to May of the next year, April and May reach the maximum in the one year time. Decreasing of the extreme temperature happens from April to May and from September to October. 3)Although, frequency of cold wave has a decreasing trend under climate change, its damages to the agriculture are enormous. With the expansion of crop area and the development of socio-economy in southern Xinjiang, the cold wave disasters to agriculture have an increasing trend.

%U https://www.jnr.ac.cn/EN/10.11849/zrzyxb.2012.12.015