Spatio-temporal Fluctuation of Temperature Using Specific Climate Indices in South Xinjiang, China

Temperature and precipitation are the major variables that can be used to determine the climatic variability in a region. This research study has focused on temperature that is much significant for the study of climatic variability over a long period of time in an area. Temperature has been assessed spatially and temporally in South Xinjiang, China using various climate indices. The temporal data about temperature of seventeen meteorological stations were acquired from Chinese Meteorology Administration (CMA) for the period from 1980-2018. To quantify the magnitude and temporal trend Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test and Sen's Slope (SS) statistical models were used. The monthly and seasonal analysis of temperature reveals significant increasing trend in mean maximum, mean minimum and average temperatures in the study area. The Sen's Slope test results indicate an increasing trend in monthly and seasonal temperature in almost all meteorological stations. The increasing trend in temperature is mainly due to the desert type of climate of the region that are gradually further aggravating with every passing year. These increasing trend of temperature will smoothen the way for perpetual drought in the region in future. Therefore, this research would be beneficial for future planning and management of water resources in the region and to make preventive measures for the mitigation of the impacts of climate change in the study area.