Forty-eight-year climatology of air temperature and precipitation changes in Xilinhot, Xilingol steppe (Inner Mongolia), China

The Xilingol steppe, located in Inner Mongolia, northern China, is a natural grassland well known for producing high-quality feed for grazing animals. Our regression analysis using the meteorological data recorded at the Xilingol Meteorological Observatory from 1953 to 2000 (48 years) indicated that the annual mean temperature rose by 2.66 degrees C during 50 years from 1953, while the mean temperature during the plant growing season (April-October) rose by 2.10 degrees C during the same period. These temperature rises at the Xilinhot Observatory are more than twice that found in other regions of China. In the same 48-year period, no significant changes in annual precipitation amounts were noted; however, the annual precipitation days significantly decreased. We must clarify the factors causing climate change in this region and how such change will impact future productivity and biodiversity in this semiarid grassland.