Abstract:Using 35 meteorological stations observation data and rice yield data during 1961-2014, and the ArcGis software technology, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and sensitivity during the key growth period of rice when chilling injury events occur. The results show that (1) the total chilling injuries number presents a “north more south less” distribution, and the largest number of chilling injuries appears in the 1970s, then the second largest in the 2000s. (2) Most chilling injury events last three to six days, mostly three days, standing for about 50% of the total events. Some chilling injuries lasting longer than six days occur in Huaibei (the area to the north of Huaihe River), with proportion below 10%. Usually Huaibei suffers chilling injuries earlier than Huainan (the area to the south of Huaihe River), most in early September. (3) Basically, the probability of the chilling injuries also presents a “north more south less” feature and significant decadal fluctuations. The largest occurrence probability appears in the 1970s, followed by the 2000s, and the lowest during 1980s to 1990s. (4) The intensity of chilling injuries is the highest in the northwest of Jiangsu, where the most intensive chilling injuries happen in the 2000s, followed by the 1970s, and the weakest in the 1980s and the 1990s. (5) The highest sensitivity area of rice to chilling injuries is the central part of Jiangsu.