Changes in extreme precipitation over Northeast China, 1960–2011

Based on daily precipitation at 71 meteorological stations over Northeast China observed by the China Meteorological Administration during the 1960–2011 period, the spatial and temporal distributions of climate extremes were analyzed. Twelve indices of extreme precipitation were studied. Consecutive dry days decreased and were significant at the 0.05 level, while the other precipitation indices had non-significant decreasing trends. The increase and decrease in the aspect of precipitation extreme events showed obvious spatial differences, and change patterns of these indices were not spatially clustered. Different oscillation periods were displayed very clearly in the extreme precipitation indices. Significant periodic variations with periods of a 7-year, a 14-year and a 17-year appeared in the extreme precipitation. The contribution of extreme precipitation to total precipitation decreased, and the mean trend magnitudes were influenced by the topography for the most extreme precipitation indices from 1960 to 2011. In addition, there were significant correlations between annual total precipitation and precipitation extremes, except consecutive dry days.