Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China

The Meiyu season is a typical rainy season in East Asia that is controlled by summer monsoon. Despite extensive research on its impact, it is unclear how urbanization modifies precipitation during the Meiyu season in the background of the monsoon influence. To address this gap, this study investigat...

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Main Authors: Ping Liang, Zhiqi Zhang, Wenjuan Huang, Qingfeng Zheng, Yue Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1216
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author Ping Liang
Zhiqi Zhang
Wenjuan Huang
Qingfeng Zheng
Yue Ma
author_facet Ping Liang
Zhiqi Zhang
Wenjuan Huang
Qingfeng Zheng
Yue Ma
author_sort Ping Liang
collection DOAJ
description The Meiyu season is a typical rainy season in East Asia that is controlled by summer monsoon. Despite extensive research on its impact, it is unclear how urbanization modifies precipitation during the Meiyu season in the background of the monsoon influence. To address this gap, this study investigated the effects of urbanization and monsoon on the modification of precipitation during the Meiyu season (PDM) in the megacity of Shanghai, China. Through homogenization analysis of the original observational data, we assessed the temporal and spatial variation in PDM in Shanghai during two stages of urbanization. Our findings revealed that both total precipitation and extreme daily precipitation during the Meiyu season in Shanghai have significantly increased since 1961. The spatial heterogeneity of PDM has also enhanced during the rapid urban process that has occurred since 1986. The long-term trend of increasing precipitation in Shanghai showed a synchronous variation with the East Asian subtropical summer monsoon (EASM) in 1961–2021. Over the interannual time scale, the significant positive correlation between PDM and EASM during the slow urbanization period (Stage 1: 1961–1985) changed to a non-significant correlation during the rapid urbanization period (Stage 2: 1986–2021), which was associated with the enhanced convective precipitation in Shanghai during the Meiyu season. Urbanization induced more convective precipitation and further weakened the association between PDM and EASM over the central city and nearby areas during Stage 2. The rapid urbanization process also resulted in increased differences in near-surface wind between urban and non-urban areas, which facilitated more PDM over the central city due to the urban friction effect and wind shear in Stage 2. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that the increase in precipitation may be associated with the enhanced coupling of cold air intrusion with the warmer climate background due to the urban heat effect occurring in Stage 2. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how urbanization and monsoons affect PDM in East Asian megacities and serve as a unique reference for climate prediction in this region.
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spelling doaj.art-6a74025290b54d1fb23f8a0c9fe6ff382023-11-18T11:14:26ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-06-01126121610.3390/land12061216Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, ChinaPing Liang0Zhiqi Zhang1Wenjuan Huang2Qingfeng Zheng3Yue Ma4Key Laboratory of Cities’ Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai, Shanghai Regional Climate Center, Shanghai 200030, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cities’ Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai, Shanghai Regional Climate Center, Shanghai 200030, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cities’ Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai, Shanghai Regional Climate Center, Shanghai 200030, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cities’ Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai, Shanghai Regional Climate Center, Shanghai 200030, ChinaShanghai Jiading District Meteorological Bureau, Shanghai 201800, ChinaThe Meiyu season is a typical rainy season in East Asia that is controlled by summer monsoon. Despite extensive research on its impact, it is unclear how urbanization modifies precipitation during the Meiyu season in the background of the monsoon influence. To address this gap, this study investigated the effects of urbanization and monsoon on the modification of precipitation during the Meiyu season (PDM) in the megacity of Shanghai, China. Through homogenization analysis of the original observational data, we assessed the temporal and spatial variation in PDM in Shanghai during two stages of urbanization. Our findings revealed that both total precipitation and extreme daily precipitation during the Meiyu season in Shanghai have significantly increased since 1961. The spatial heterogeneity of PDM has also enhanced during the rapid urban process that has occurred since 1986. The long-term trend of increasing precipitation in Shanghai showed a synchronous variation with the East Asian subtropical summer monsoon (EASM) in 1961–2021. Over the interannual time scale, the significant positive correlation between PDM and EASM during the slow urbanization period (Stage 1: 1961–1985) changed to a non-significant correlation during the rapid urbanization period (Stage 2: 1986–2021), which was associated with the enhanced convective precipitation in Shanghai during the Meiyu season. Urbanization induced more convective precipitation and further weakened the association between PDM and EASM over the central city and nearby areas during Stage 2. The rapid urbanization process also resulted in increased differences in near-surface wind between urban and non-urban areas, which facilitated more PDM over the central city due to the urban friction effect and wind shear in Stage 2. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that the increase in precipitation may be associated with the enhanced coupling of cold air intrusion with the warmer climate background due to the urban heat effect occurring in Stage 2. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how urbanization and monsoons affect PDM in East Asian megacities and serve as a unique reference for climate prediction in this region.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1216urbanizationMeiyumonsoonhomogenized serieslong-term changeinterannual variation
spellingShingle Ping Liang
Zhiqi Zhang
Wenjuan Huang
Qingfeng Zheng
Yue Ma
Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China
Land
urbanization
Meiyu
monsoon
homogenized series
long-term change
interannual variation
title Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China
title_full Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China
title_fullStr Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China
title_full_unstemmed Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China
title_short Combined Modification of Urbanization and Monsoon in Meiyu Precipitation Changes in the Megacity Shanghai, China
title_sort combined modification of urbanization and monsoon in meiyu precipitation changes in the megacity shanghai china
topic urbanization
Meiyu
monsoon
homogenized series
long-term change
interannual variation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1216
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AT qingfengzheng combinedmodificationofurbanizationandmonsooninmeiyuprecipitationchangesinthemegacityshanghaichina
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