RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE YANGTZE BASIN >> 2025, Vol. 34 >> Issue (09): 2041-.doi: 10.11870/cjlyzyyhj202509012

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Future Projections of Extreme Precipitation in the Yangtze River Basin: High-Resolution N-CMIP6 Dataset Analysis under Multiple Warming Levels

WEN Shan-shan 1,ZHAI Jian-qing 2,WANG Zhi-chen 1,JIANG Fu-shuang 1   

  1. (1. School of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China;2. State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, National Climate Centre, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, China)
  • Online:2025-09-20 Published:2025-09-22

Abstract: Under global warming, the Yangtze River Basin has experienced significant warming and an increased frequency of extreme precipitation events. This study systematically evaluated the performance of climate models and quantified the evolution of extreme precipitation under various warming levels (1.5°C, 2°C, 3°C, and 4°C) using the NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 (N-CMIP6) dataset and a multi-model ensemble (MME). The results showed that, from 1961 to 2023, annual precipitation (PRCPTOT) and extreme precipitation intensity indices (R95p, Rx1day, Rx5day) exhibited no statistically significant long-term trends but demonstrated substantial spatial divergence (p>0.05). Specifically, short-duration heavy precipitation increased in the lower basin, while it attenuated in the middle basin. Concurrently, consecutive dry days (CDD) significantly decreased at a rate of -0.89 days per decade (p<0.05). As warming intensified, extreme precipitation amplified nonlinearly. The growth rates in the 3°C-4°C phase exceeded those by 3-6 times in the 1.5°C-2°C phase. At 4°C of warming, the increase in short-duration precipitation (Rx1day, 23.3%) was 1.5 times higher than that of prolonged events (Rx5day, 15.7%), and precipitation concentration in parts of the middle-lower basin exceeded 50%. The spatial divergence of hydroclimatic risks intensified: the upper and middle regions faced concurrent heavy precipitation and shortened drought duration, while the lower basin was exposed to compounded risks of amplified extreme precipitation and prolonged droughts. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C-2°C could reduce extreme precipitation amplification by 46%-84%, and might significantly mitigate associated risks. These findings provided a scientific foundation for water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in the Yangtze River Basin, and highlighted the critical importance of controlling global temperature rise for sustainable regional development.

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