<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">AJCC</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>American Journal of Climate Change</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2167-9495</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/ajcc.2016.53027</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">AJCC-69846</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Earth&amp;Environmental Sciences</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Spatial and Temporal Variations of Extreme Climate Events in Xinjiang, China during 1961-2010
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Xiangling</surname><given-names>Tang</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Xin</surname><given-names>Lv</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Yineng</surname><given-names>Ouyang</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"><sup>3</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Production and Construction Corps, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecological Agriculture, Shihezi, China</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Geography Department, Natural Science of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff3"><addr-line>College of Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China</addr-line></aff><author-notes><corresp id="cor1">* E-mail:<email>txl_tea@126.com(XT)</email>;</corresp></author-notes><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>02</day><month>08</month><year>2016</year></pub-date><volume>05</volume><issue>03</issue><fpage>360</fpage><lpage>372</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>19</day>	<month>March</month>	<year>2016</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>accepted</day>	<month>15</month>	<year>August</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>18</day>	<month>August</month>	<year>2016</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Daily maximum/minimum temperature and precipitation data from 35 weather stations in Xinjiang during 1961-2010 were examined using kriging spatial analysis, linear tendency estimation, and correlation analysis. Temporal trends and spatial distribution patterns of extreme temperature and precipitation in this area were then analyzed using 12 extreme temperature and 7 extreme precipitation indices. The following results were obtained. 1) Over the past 50 years, extreme cold indices, excepting the monthly maximum temperature minimum value and monthly extreme minimum temperature, showed slight decreasing trends. These indices include the maximum number of consecutive frost days, icy days, cold-nighttime days, and cold-daytime days. 2) Extreme warm events generally showed significant increasing trends (P &lt; 0.01), including the indices of summertime days, warm-nighttime days, warm-daytime days, monthly extreme maximum temperature, and monthly minimum temperature maximum value. 3) The spatial distributions of threshold values of extreme warm and cold events showed notable regional differences. A reducing trend of extreme cold events and an increase in extreme warm events has occurred mainly in northern Xinjiang. 4) For the past 50 years, six extreme precipitation indices, aside from consecutive dry days, showed significant increasing trends in Xinjiang (P &lt; 0.05) and notable differences in spatial distribution. The increase in extreme precipitation events was more rapid at northern than at southern sites. Extreme precipitation intensity was greater in mountainous areas, and precipitation frequency increased in the plain region. 5) Factor analysis revealed good correlations among extreme temperature indices, excepting extreme temperature days.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Xinjiang Area</kwd><kwd> Extreme Climatic Event</kwd><kwd> Spatial Change</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>At present, no doubt exists about global warming. The fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref1">1</xref>] identified a warming trend of 0.13˚C/10a over the past 50 years. The warming trend in China has been 0.22˚C/10a [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref2">2</xref>] , with significant increases in annual mean temperature and heating rate [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref3">3</xref>] . The increasing mean temperature not only affects the change in extreme temperature values, but can also leads to extreme climatic events, such as heat waves and rainstorms, which show trends of increasing frequency, strength, and intensity [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref4">4</xref>] .</p><p>Many studies have indicated that frequent extreme climatic events cause huge losses for society and the economy, as well as loss of human lives [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref5">5</xref>] . The most recent statistics reveal an increase of up to 10-fold in the economic loss arising from global climatic change and related extreme climatic events over the past 40 years. In China, weather disasters caused by extreme climatic events account for 70% of all natural hazards [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref6">6</xref>] . Hence, extreme climatic events are sources of widespread concern for governments and researchers [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref8">8</xref>] . Studies of changes in these events are necessary not only to guarantee state security and economic development, but also to prevent disasters, reduce damage-related needs, and, most importantly, safeguard people’s safety and livelihoods.</p><p>Xinjiang, located far from the ocean in the center of Eurasia, in the border region of northwestern China , is impacted by the uplifted Tibetan Plateau, westerly wind circulation effects, and high mountain landforms. This region is thus an important route by which cold air invades China , and has a diverse climate. Northern Xinjiang has a variable continental arid and semi-arid climate, whereas southern Xinjiang has a warm continental arid climate; the ecology of these regions is fragile and has suffered greatly under the influence of climatic change [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref9">9</xref>] - [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref12">12</xref>] . In recent years, large studies have investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of and variation in extreme precipitation in Xinjiang [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref13">13</xref>] . These studies are of great importance for attaining a correct understanding of climatic variation in this region. However, most previous studies have considered single meteorological elements, such as temperature or precipitation in southern or northern Xinjiang, and discrepancies exist in the length of time represented by meteorological data and stations from which they were collected. Hence, this study was conducted using internationally recognized extreme climatic indices to examine long-term trends of change in extreme climatic events and their spatial distribution patterns, as well as problems existing in the whole of Xinjiang that have actual reference value for economic development and response to climatic disasters in the future.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Research Data and Methods</title><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Research Data Source and Treatment</title><p>Daily precipitation and maximum, minimum, and mean temperature data from China’s Meteorological Administration for the period 1961-2010 in Xinjiang were used for this study. Data from 43 meteorological stations were reviewed to identify problems with missing or misdetected observations. We selected high-quality data from 35 stations (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>) as the study target. For missing and misdetected data from stations with less complete records, we used corrected data from Bai Lei et al. [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref14">14</xref>] .</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Study Method</title><p>The standards used to define and calculate the extreme climatic indices used in this study were based on the World Meteorological Organization’s Commission for Climatology World Climate Research and Climatic Variation and Predictability programs’ expert team on climate change detection, monitoring, and indices [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref15">15</xref>] . This methodology has been applied to many countries and regions [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref16">16</xref>] , including Xinjiang. Using RClimDex software (http://cccma.seos.uvic.ca/ETCCDMI/), 19 extreme climatic indices (7 related to precipitation and 12 related to temperature) were developed and applied (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>).</p><p>All of the extreme climate indices reflect three aspects of temperature or precipitation events: strength, frequency, and temporal duration of climatic change. In extreme climate research, a certain percentile value is usually adopted as a threshold (with values exceeding it defined as extreme), and calculations are performed according to the nonparametric method of Bonsal et al. [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref17">17</xref>] , as follows: for a meteorological factor with N values, these values are sorted in ascending order (X<sub>1</sub>, X<sub>2</sub>, …, X<sub>m</sub>, …, X<sub>N</sub>); the probability that a certain value is less than or equal to the rank of X<sub>m</sub> is then P = (m − 0.31)/(N + 0.38), where P denotes percentile, m is the serial number of X<sub>m</sub>, and N is the number of meteorological values.</p><p>In this study, percentile values were used to calculate relative and other indices. Specifically, temperature data were sorted in ascending order, and the 90<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> percentile values were regarded as thresholds for extreme temperature. When the highest temperature on a given day exceeded the 90<sup>th</sup> percentile value, an extreme high-temperature event was considered to have occurred on that day; when the highest temperature on a given day was less than the 10<sup>th</sup> percentile value, an extreme low-temperature event was considered to have occurred. Secondly, we analyzed extreme climatic events using linear tendency estimation, the Mann-Kendall method, and the kriging method of spatial analysis.</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Site meteorological information in the study area</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >No.</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Station</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Longitude (˚E)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Latitude (˚N)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Elevation (m)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Period of series</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Habahe</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >86.40</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >532.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Jimunai</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >85.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >47.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >984.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Fuai</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >87.47</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >47.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >500.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Aletai</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >88.08</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >47.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >735.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Fuyun</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >89.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >46.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >807.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Qinghe</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >90.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >46.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1218.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Alashankou</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >82.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45.18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >336.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Tuoli</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >83.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45.93</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1077.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Beitashan</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >90.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >45.37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1653.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Caijiahu</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >87.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >44.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >440.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Qitai</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >89.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >44.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >793.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Yinning</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.95</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >662.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Zhaosu</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1851.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Baluntai</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >86.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1739.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kumishi</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >88.22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >922.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Bayinbuluke</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >84.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2458.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Tulufan</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >89.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42.93</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >34.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Akesu</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >80.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1103.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Baicheng</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1229.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Luntai</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >84.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >976.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >21</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kuerle</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >86.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >931.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Tuergate</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >75.40</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3504.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Wuqia</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >75.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >39.72</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2175.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >24</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kashi</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >75.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >39.47</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1289.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Aheqi</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >78.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40.93</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1984.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >26</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Alaer</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40.55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1012.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ruoqiang</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >88.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >39.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >887.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Shache</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >77.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1231.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >29</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Pishan</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >78.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1375.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Hetian</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >79.93</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1375.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >31</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Minfeng</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >82.72</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1409.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >32</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Qiemo</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >85.55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1247.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Balikun</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >93.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1677.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Yiwu</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >94.70</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1728.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Hongliuhe</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >94.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1573.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1961.01.01-2010.12.31</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><fig id="fig1"  position="float"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref></label><caption><title> Distribution of meteorological stations in Xinjiang</title></caption><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x7.png"/></fig><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Definition of extreme temperature and precipitation indices</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Index</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Descriptive name</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Definition</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Unit</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="12"  >Temperature</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >TXx</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Warmest day</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual highest TX</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >˚C</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TNx</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Warmest night</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual highest TN</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >˚C</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TXn</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Coldest day</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual lowest TX</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >˚C</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TNn</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Coldest night</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual lowest TN</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >˚C</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TN10p</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Cold night frequency</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Percentage of days when TN &lt; 10<sup>th</sup> percentile of 1961-1990</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TX10p</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Cold day frequency</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Percentage of days when TX &lt; 10<sup>th</sup> percentile of 1961-1990</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TN90p</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Warm night frequency</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Percentage of days when TN &gt; 90<sup>th</sup> percentile of 1961-1990</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TX90p</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Warm day frequency</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Percentage of days when TX &gt; 90<sup>th</sup> percentile of 1961-1990</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >FD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Frost days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual count when TN &lt; 0˚C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >ID</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ice days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual count when TX &lt; 0˚C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SU25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Summer days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >the highest temperature is over 25˚C day number</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >DTR</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Diurnal temperature range</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual mean difference between TX and TN</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >˚C</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="7"  >Precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >SDII</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Simple daily intensity index</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Average precipitation on wet days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mm/d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >PRCPTOT</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Wet day precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual total precipitation from wet days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mm</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >RX1day</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 1-day precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual maximum 1-day precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mm</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >RX5day</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum 5-day precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual maximum consecutive 5-day precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mm</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CDD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Consecutive dry days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum number of consecutive dry days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CWD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Consecutive wet days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Maximum number of consecutive wet days</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >d</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >R95p</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Very wet day precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Annual total precipitation when RR &gt; 95<sup>th</sup> percentile of 1961-1990 daily precipitation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mm</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>Notes: <sup>a</sup>All the indices are calculated by RCLimDEX. Abbreviations are as follows: TX, daily maximum temperature; TN, daily minimum temperature; TG, daily mean temperature; RR, daily precipitation. A wet day is defined when RR ≥ 0.1 mm, and a dry day is defined when RR &lt; 0.1 mm. Indices are included for completeness but are not analyzed further in this article.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Changes in Extreme Temperature Events in Xinjiang over the Past 50 Years</title><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. Interannual Variation in Extreme Cold Events</title><p>Consistent with global changes, the frequency of extreme low-temperature events in the Xinjiang area was found to have decreased while that of extreme high-temperature events increased [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref18">18</xref>] . Linear variation in extreme cold indices in Xinjiang over the past 50 years generally showed a decreasing curvilinear trend (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>). The interannual variation tendency rates for the maximum numbers of continuous frost days (FDs), icy days (IDs), cold-nighttime days (TN10p), and cold-daytime days (TX10p) were −4.8 d/10a, −2.75 d/10a, −2.24 d/10a, and −0.88 d/10a, respectively (all α ≤ 0.01), and their correlation coefficients by year were −0.774, −0.475, −0.827, and −0.39, respectively (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>).</p><fig-group id="fig2"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref></label><caption><title> Regional annual anomalies series during 1961-2010 for indices of cold extremes.</title></caption><fig id ="fig2_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x8.png"/></fig></fig-group><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> The extreme temperature mean value (˚C or d) and change range [˚C/ 10a )/or d/( 10a )]</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Index</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Standard difference</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Change tendency rate</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="6"  >Average value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Over the years</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1960s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1970s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1980s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1990s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >From the year of 2000s</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >FD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >162.64</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >169.88</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >167.47</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >166.69</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >162.18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >146.78</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >ID</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.85</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >68.799</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >72.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >73.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >69.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >67.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >60.9</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TXn</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.29</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−14.917</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−15.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−13.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−12.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−17.8</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TNn</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.505</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−26.504</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−27.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−27.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−24.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−24.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−28.4</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TN10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.88</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.237</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.44</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.9</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TX10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.879</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.9</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.5</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>The monthly maximum temperature minimum value (TXn) and monthly extreme minimum temperature (TNn) showed increasing trends, with interannual variation tendency rates of 0.16˚C/ 10a and 0.505˚C/10a, respectively, although these trends were not significant (α &gt; 0.05). The correlation coefficients of TXn and TNn by year were −0.133 and 0.042, indicating significant warming, especially on low-temperature days, the frequency of which has decreased over time.</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Spatial Variation in Extreme Cold Events</title><p>Against the background of global warming, the extreme cold indices generally showed decreasing trends over the past 50 years, but changes in these indices were characterized by spatial variation (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>). Change tendency rates of continuous FD ranged from −7.8 to −2.0 d/ 10a and displayed significant decreasing trends at about 91.4% of all stations (only 2.8% of stations showed increasing trends or no obvious trend). Variation tendency rates for IDs ranged from −4.0 to −1.5 d/ 10a , and were &lt;0 at 80% of stations. Thus, the ID data showed significant decreasing trends in most regions, all of which were in northern Xinjiang.</p><p>Variation tendency rates for TN10p ranged from −3.7 to −0 d/ 10a and were &lt;0 at 88.5% of stations; however, the decreasing trends were not significant. The rates for TX10p ranged from −1.3 to −0.5 d/ 10a and were &lt; 0 at 48.5% of stations; these declining trends were significant. The variation tendency rates for TXn ranged from 0.04 to 2.5˚C/ 10a and exceeded 0 at 48.5% of stations; increasing trends were significant at 37.5% of stations. Variation tendency rates for TNn ranged from 0 to 2.5˚C/ 10a and showed obvious increasing trends at 94.2% of stations.</p></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. Interannual Variation in Extreme Warm Events</title><p>For the past 50 years, all extreme warm event indices, such as the numbers of summertime days (SU25), warm- nighttime days (TN90p), and warm-daytime days (TX90p), as well as monthly extreme maximum temperature (TXx) and the monthly minimum temperature maximal value (TNx), showed significant increasing trends in the Xinjiang area (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>). The increasing rates for SU25, TN90p, and TX90p were 2.59, 3.38, and 1.59 d/10a, respectively (all α ≤ 0.05), with correlation coefficients by year of 0.48, 0.86, and 0.6, respectively (all with ≥99% confidence). The variation tendency rates for TXx and TNx were 0.23˚C/10a and 0.52˚C/10a, respectively, and the correlation coefficients by year were 0.36 and 0.64, respectively (all α ≤ 0.01).</p><p>The graph of changes in day-by-day temperature range (DTR; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref> &amp; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>) shows a decreasing trend in Xinjiang over the past 50 years (rate, 0.21˚C/10a), with a correlation coefficient by year of −0.54 (α = 0.01). The trend of change in extreme annual temperature range in the entire Xinjiang area complies with that throughout China [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref19">19</xref>] .</p></sec><sec id="s3_4"><title>3.4. Spatial Variation in Extreme Warm Events</title><p>Against the background of global warming, the extreme warm indices in the Xinjiang area generally showed increasing trends over the past 50 years, but these changes were characterized by spatial variation (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref>). Variation tendency rates for SU25 ranged from0 to 8.0 d/ 10a , and about 100% of stations showed significant increasing trends. The variation tendency rates for TN90p ranged from −0.2 to 8.0 d/ 10a , and 62.8% of stations showed significant increasing trends. The variation tendency rates for TX90p ranged from 0.2 to 3.2 d/ 10a and exceeded 0 at 91% of stations, with 80% of stations showing significant trends. The variation tendency rates for TXx ranged from −0.24 to 0.9˚C/ 10a and exceeded 0 at 77.1% of stations, with very significant increasing trends at 59.2% of stations. The variation tendency rates for TNx ranged from −1.86 to 3.0˚C/ 10a and exceeded 0 at 82.8% of stations. Trends of increasing TNx were very significant at 58.6% of stations.</p><p>Although the ranges of increase in variation tendency rates for TXn and TNn exceeded those for TXx and TNx, all stations showed decreasing trends for DTR.</p><fig-group id="fig3"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref></label><caption><title> Spatial distribution of linear tendency rate for indices of cold extremes during 1961-2010.</title></caption><fig id ="fig3_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x10.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig3_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x9.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig3_3"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x12.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig3_4"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x11.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig3_5"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x14.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig3_6"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x13.png"/></fig></fig-group><fig-group id="fig4"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref></label><caption><title> Regional annual anomalies series during 1961-2010 for indices of warm extremes.</title></caption><fig id ="fig4_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x15.png"/></fig></fig-group></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Changes in Extreme Precipitation Events in Xinjiang over the Past 50 Years</title><sec id="s4_1"><title>4.1. Interannual Variation Trends for Extreme Precipitation Indices</title><p>Precipitation intensity is one factor used to measure extreme precipitation, with greater intensity associated with greater possibility of disaster. Average precipitation intensity in the Xinjiang area showed a predominant trend of annual increases over the past 50 years, consistent with global data and those for China [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.69846-ref20">20</xref>] . However, the range of change indicated by the extreme precipitation intensity indices was small relative to those for extreme temperature events. Total precipitation during the wet season (PRCPTOT) in each year from 1961 to 2010 appeared to show a significant increasing trend (rate, 8.23 mm / 10a ; α = 0.05; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>). The correlation coefficient of PRCPTOT by year was 0.43 (α = 0.01; <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>). Average PRCPTOT over the years was 144.33 mm (standard difference, 23.297). The difference between the two periods of 1961-1980 and after 1980 was very significant.</p><fig-group id="fig5"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref></label><caption><title> Spatial distribution of linear tendency rate for indices of warm extremes during 1961-2010.</title></caption><fig id ="fig5_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x17.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig5_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x16.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig5_3"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x19.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig5_4"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x18.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig5_5"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x21.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig5_6"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x20.png"/></fig></fig-group><fig-group id="fig6"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref></label><caption><title> Inter-annual variation of precipitation extremes in Xinjiang during 1961-2010.</title></caption><fig id ="fig6_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x22.png"/></fig></fig-group><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> The standard difference of extreme precipitation index and change tendency rate (mm/10a) and mean value (d or mm) in Xinjiang</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Index</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Standard difference</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Change tendency rate</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="6"  >Mean value</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Over the year</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1960s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1970s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1980s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >The 1990s</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >From the year of 2000s</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >PRCPTOT</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >23.297</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.232</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >144.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >129.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >134.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >143.79</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >159.22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >155.11</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >SDII</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.549</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.64</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.9</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >RX1day</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.355</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.474</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.97</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.71</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18.81</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >RX5day</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.639</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.434</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >25.704</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >26.68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >23.86</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >23.69</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >28.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >26.29</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >R95</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >32.197</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.322</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >116.24</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >108.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >97.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >105.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >136.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >133.2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CDD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.795</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−2.867</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >67.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >71.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >68.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >70.59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >66.59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >59.04</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CWD</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.154</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.83</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.63</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.35</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>The simple precipitation intensity index (SDII) showed small increasing trend at a rate of 0.13 mm / 10a , but this trend was not significant (α &gt; 0.05; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>). The standard difference in the SDII was 0.549, the mean value was 4.62 mm /d, and the correlation coefficient by year was 0.356, indicating that changes in the SDII were stable over the past 50 years (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>). All extreme precipitation indices, such as monthly maximum precipitation on 1 day (RX1day), monthly maximum precipitation in 5 days (RX5day), strong rainfall amount (R95), and number of consecutive wet days (CWDs), showed increasing trends; the rates of increase for the indices mentioned above were 0.47 mm / 10a , 0.43 mm / 10a , 9.32 d/ 10a , and 0.15 d/ 10a , respectively. Among these values, the increasing trends for R95 and CWDs were significant. The correlation coefficients by year for these indices were 0.25, 0.06, 0.35, and 0.41, respectively, with those of R95 and CWD reaching 95% confidence. The number of consecutive dry days (CDDs) showed a decreasing trend (rate, 2.87 d/ 10a ), with a correlation coefficient by year of −0.29 (α = 0.05).</p></sec><sec id="s4_2"><title>4.2. Spatial Distribution Pattern of Extreme Precipitation Indices</title><p>Interannual variation tendencies for most extreme precipitation indices, with the exception of the CDD index, showed significant increasing trends at most stations in the Xinjiang area over the past 50 years (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref>). PRCPTOT showed decreasing trends at only 2.8% of the 35 stations from which data were analyzed; most stations showed increasing trends (range, −30.68 to 19.78 mm / 10a ). The rate of increase was greater in the Tianshan and northern Xinjiang areas. Only 17.1% of stations showed decreasing trends for SDII; 82.8% of stations showed increasing trends, and the rate of increase was greater at southern stations.</p><p>Increasing trends in the extreme precipitation indices of RX1day, RX5day, R95, and CWDs were found at 25 (71.4%), 28 (80%), 30 (85.7%), and 29 (82.8%) stations, respectively. More than 70% of stations showed increasing trends for PRCPTOT, SDII, RX1day, RX5day, R95, and CWDs, indicating that the frequency of extreme precipitation trends is generally increasing in the Xinjiang area. Analysis of CDD data from 11 (31.4%) stations in southern and northern Xinjiang revealed an increasing trend and demonstrated regional tendencies for increased numbers of disasters involving drought.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s5"><title>5. Conclusions</title><p>In this study, 12 extreme temperature indices and 5 extreme precipitation indices were used to examine temporal and spatial variation in climatic extremes in Xinjiang over the past 50 years. The main conclusions are described below.</p><p>1) Analysis of temporal changes revealed decreasing trends in extreme cold indices (i.e., obvious reductions in the number of severely cold days and extreme low-temperature events), consistent with global warming. Linear variation in extreme warm indices showed notable increasing trends. The trends for TX10p, TN10p, IDs, and FDs (−0.88, −2.24, −2.75, −4.8 d/10a, respectively) decreased, whereas those for TX90p, TN90p, and SU25 (1.59, 3.38, and 2.59 d/10a, respectively) increased.</p><p>2) Analysis of temporal changes in extreme precipitation indices (except CDDs), such as RX1day, RX5day, R95, and CWD, as well as PRCPTOT, showed consistently increasing trends (rates of 0.474 mm/10a, 0.434 mm/10a, 9.322 d/10a, 0.154 d/10a, and 8.232 mm/10a, respectively).</p><p>3) Differences in the spatial distributions of the indices were notable. The frequencies of extreme cold and extreme warm events decreased in southern Xinjiang. The spatial distribution of extreme precipitation also showed obvious regional differences, with the directionality of trends differing between mountainous and desert basin areas. The response to global warming has been more notable in northern than in southern Xinjiang. Global climatic change has altered the ecology of northern Xinjiang and increased the frequency of extreme climatic disasters.</p><p>4) Changes in extreme cold and warm indices, as well as those in nighttime and daytime indices, showed notable asymmetry: the warming ranges of the cold and nighttime indices exceeded those of the warm and daytime indices, respectively.</p><fig-group id="fig7"><label><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref></label><caption><title> Spatial distribution of inter-annual variation of precipitation extremes in Xinjiang during 1961-2010.</title></caption><fig id ="fig7_1"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x24.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig7_2"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x23.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig7_3"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x26.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig7_4"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x25.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig7_5"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x28.png"/></fig><fig id ="fig7_6"><label></label><graphic mimetype="image"   position="float"  xlink:type="simple"  xlink:href="http://html.scirp.org/file/4-2360401x27.png"/></fig></fig-group></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>This study is jointly financed by the National Natural Science Fund Project (U1203282) and the National Natural Science Foundation Project of China (41001020), and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Key Laboratory of “Xinjiang laboratory of Lake Environoments and Resources in Arid Zone” (XJDX0909-2012- 12), the Shihezi University team innovation project (2014ZRKXJQ08). The authors gratefully acknowledge funding for this research and would like to express their sincere thanks to Zhang Yan Wei for the help with data.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Xiangling Tang,Xin Lv,Yineng Ouyang, (2016) Spatial and Temporal Variations of Extreme Climate Events in Xinjiang, China during 1961-2010. American Journal of Climate Change,05,360-372. doi: 10.4236/ajcc.2016.53027</p></sec><sec id="s8"><title>NOTES</title></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.69846-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="book" xlink:type="simple">IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 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