Day-to-Day Temperature Variability in China During Last 60 Years Relative to Arctic Oscillation

Day-to-day (DTD) temperature variability is an important characteristic of air temperature and is closely related to the economy, ecology, and human health. According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the air temperature has increased particularly during the most recent decades. However, the temporal and spatial variations of DTD temperature variability have not been fully addressed. In this study, the DTD temperature variability is calculated using observed air temperature from meteorological stations in China. The regional and seasonal performances are evaluated among different climate regions and half-year periods. In addition, the relationship between DTD temperature variability and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) is evaluated. The national mean DTD temperature variability in 1961-2020 during the warming (cooling) half-year was 1.8 degrees C (1.5 degrees C), with minimum (maximum) values occurring in the southwestern (northeastern) regions of mainland China. Negative correlation was found between DTD temperature variability and the AO, particularly during the warming half-year in the northern region. The national mean trends of DTD temperature variability were -0.003 degrees C and -0.007 degrees C per decade during warming and cooling half-years, respectively, indicating that the inter-day variation is decreasing under the background of global warming, which may be ecologically beneficial. These results could be of great significance in understanding temperature change and can be used to quantify land-atmosphere interaction and climate change.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the observed air temperature from meteorological stations in China to calculate the day-to-day temperature variability (DTD). It found regional and seasonal differences in DTD temperature variability and assessed its relationship with the Arctic Oscillation (AO). The results indicate that the inter-day temperature variation is decreasing under global warming, which is ecologically beneficial.