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Arid Land Geography ›› 2021, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (2): 308-315.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000–6060.2021.02.02

• Climatology and Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Temporal and spatial variation characteristics of first and last frost day and frost period from 1961 to 2017 in northern Xinjiang

ZHANG Xin1(),LOU Junwei2,WANG Yong3(),WANG Zhikai4   

  1. 1. Mosuowan Bay Weather Station, Meteorological Bureau of Shihezi, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
    2. Meteorological Bureau of Wuyi County, Jinhua 321200, Zhejiang, China
    3. Xinjiang Ecological Meteorology and Satellite Remote Sensing Center, Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang, China
    4. Meteorological Bureau of Deyang City, Deyang 618000, Sichuan, China
  • Received:2019-11-18 Revised:2020-09-24 Online:2021-03-25 Published:2021-04-14
  • Contact: Yong WANG E-mail:40468607@qq.com;443409880@qq.com

Abstract:

This study analyzes the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of the first, last frost dates, and frost season in northern Xinjiang, China using the daily minimum temperature observation data from 37 surface weather stations in northern Xinjiang (1961—2017) and conventional meteorological statistical methods. The results showed that (1) the average first frost day in northern Xinjiang is delayed at a rate of 2.2 d·(10a)-1. The average last frost day is advanced at a rate of 1.7 d·(10a)-1. The average frost season is shortened at a rate of 3.9 d·(10a) -1. The principal change cycle in the first, last frost day, and frost period is approximately two years. (2) The regions with a larger frost shortening trend in northern Xinjiang could better correspond to the delayed first frost day and early final frost day. The shortening trend of the frost season is most significant in the Ili Prefecture, Tacheng Prefecture, and the northeastern part of the east Tianshan Mountain. The narrow region extending from Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountain has a moderate shortening trend, and the Altay Prefecture has the weakest. (3) The variation trend of the first frost day in most areas of northern Xinjiang correlates well with altitude. The delaying rate of the first frost day decreases as altitude increases, with a vertical changing rate of -0.077 d·(a·km)-1. The warming of autumn is the principal reason for the delay of the first frost day. Spring and autumn warming both affect the shortening of the frost season, but the impact of autumn is greater.

Key words: first/last frost date, frost period, temporal and spatial variation, northern Xinjiang