Temperature Variation in China during the Last 100 years

A review of achievements on temperature variation during the last 100 years in China is made. It is found that the general tendency of warming in China is similar to that in the Northern Hemisphere,but with some significant differences in the evolutive process and warming magnitudes. These differences include (1 ) the peak temperature in China occurred in the 40's rather than after the 80's; (2 )since the 50's the cooling was observed in southwest China while the warming mainly occurred in Northeast China, North China and (3) the two sudden changes in temperature variations in China during the last 100 years were observed, with the first one occurred in 1919 and the second one in 1952. The effect of urbanization on the measurements of air temperature and their correction methods are also discussed. The amplitude of the temperature variation in China during the last 100 years does not exceed the range of natural climate fluctuations. Therefore,it is uncertain that the above temperature variation is caused by human activity.

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