Patterns of multiscale temperature variability over the eastern and central Tibetan Plateau during 1960–2008

Climate variability is an important inherent characteristic of climate and it varies on all timescales. Through examination of temperature variability on multiple temporal scales at 63 stations over the eastern and central Tibetan Plateau (TP) during 1960–2008, we find decreasing trends in daily and intraannual temperature, especially in cold seasons (autumn and winter). These changes are more sensitive than those in the eastern China coastal region at the same latitude and indicate an asymmetric change of temperature, with hourly, daily, and monthly trends in cold periods stronger than those in warm periods during the recent years. The variation of interannual temperature is complex, showing an increasing trend in autumn and winter and decreasing trend in spring and summer, which is similar to those in the northern polar region.