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Changes in annual accumulation retrieved from Geladaindong ice core and its relationship to atmospheric circulation over the Tibetan Plateau

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  • Geography
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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Annual accumulation records covering 1935 to 2004 were reconstructed using Geladaindong ice core in the source of Yangtze River. A significant positive correlation between annual accumulation and precipitation from nearby meteorological stations was found, suggesting ice core accumulation could be taken as a precipitation proxy in the region. In the past 70 years, precipitation in the Geladaindong region was low from 1930s to early 1960s, and the lowest value occurred in the later 1950s. Since 1960s, precipitation increased dramatically and reached the maximum around 1980s, then decreased slightly in 1990s. By using Mann-Kendall rank statistical test method, a change point for precipitation was determined in 1967. Analysis of the atmospheric circulation over the Tibetan Plateau suggested that, compared with the southwest wind during the low precipitation period (before 1967), it extended about 2 latitudes northward during high precipitation period (after 1967). Moreover, during the high precipitation, the trough over the Bal Karshi Lake was also enhanced, and both the meridional wind and vapor transporting displayed a remarkable aggrandizement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100085, China

    Zhang YongJun & Kang ShiChang

  2. Graduate School of CAS, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhang YongJun

  3. National Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Kang ShiChang & Qin DaHe

  4. Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Grigholm Bjorn & Mayewski Paul A.

Authors
  1. Zhang YongJun
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  2. Kang ShiChang
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  3. Qin DaHe
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  4. Grigholm Bjorn
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  5. Mayewski Paul A.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kang ShiChang.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40401054 and 40121101), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB422004), the “Talent Project” and Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. KZCX3-SW-339 and 334), and Dean Foundation of CAS

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Zhang, Y., Kang, S., Qin, D. et al. Changes in annual accumulation retrieved from Geladaindong ice core and its relationship to atmospheric circulation over the Tibetan Plateau. Chin. Sci. Bull. 52, 3261–3266 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0439-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0439-y

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