Based on meteorological data and dust events data during the past 50 years, the authors systematically analyzed the changes of temperature, precipitation, evaporation capacity, dust events and some other climate factors of oasis-desert transitional zone in Minqin, Gansu, China. The results indicated that the mean warming rate in this transitional zone was 0.009 ℃·a-1 during the past 50 years; the temperature increase was relatively significant after 1980s and the warming rate reached up to 0.025 ℃·a-1; the temperature increase occurred mainly in winter and spring. The precipitation increased in a fluctuating way and the stability was strengthened. Compared to that of 1960s, the precipitation increased by 27.45% in 2000s, and the increase mainly occurred in spring and autumn. Evaporation capacity decreased and relative humidity presented a linear increase. Influenced by the climatic changes, the sandstorm days decreased constantly in recent 50 years, but the sand blowing and dust floating presented fluctuation and rebound because they had close relation with the human interference. Climate change will be benefit to the recovery and rebuilt of vegetation as well as reversion of desertified lands.
Introduction
