Relationship between trends in temperature extremes and elevation in the eastern and central Tibetan Plateau, 1961-2005

Trend magnitudes of 11 indices of temperature extremes at 71 stations with elevations above 2000 m a. s.l. in the eastern and central Tibetan Plateau (TP) during 1961 - 2005 are examined. Most trends in extremes are consistent with general warming in the TP. There are no significant correlations between elevation and trend magnitude of temperature extremes with the exception of TXn (coldest day temperature) and TX10 (cold day frequency). Thus an enhanced sensitivity of temperature extremes at higher elevations in the eastern and central TP is not apparent in the context of recent warming in this region. Although previous work showed a correlation between elevation and mean temperature trends in the TP, this analysis fails to substantiate this relationship for extremes. Analysis of trend magnitudes by topographic type and degree of urbanization show both factors to have a strong influence in this dataset, which overrides that of elevation.