Abstract:

In this study, the traditional Köppen climate classification was used to composite analyze the climate of 22 El Niño and La Niña years in China during the period 1966-2015, and the results were compared with those in the 50 years from 1966 to 2015. The results are as follows. During ENSO years, there are no significant changes on the distribution of the climate zones as a whole. China is mainly dominant by four climate zones. The climate types and subtypes, however, are changed significantly during El Niño and La Niña years and next years, especially in southern, northeastern and northwestern China. There are five sub-regions in China, namely southeastern Tibet, the central of Shaanxi province, the central of Sichuan province, Liaodong Peninsula and eastern Inner Mongolia, which are sensitive to both El Niño and La Niña years, and these sensitive regions tend to be drier in winter. There are still two sub-regions in China, namely the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and South China, which are sensitive to La Niña years and also tend to be drier in winter. In addition, there are four sub-regions in China, namely the central of Shaanxi province, the central of Sichuan province, Liaodong Peninsula and eastern Inner Mongolia, which are sensitive to the next years of both El Niño and La Niña. There are also four sub-regions in China, namely the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, South China, the east of Yunnan province and the central of Guangdong and Guangxi Hills, which are sensitive to the next years of El Niño.

Key words: ENSO, Köppen climate classification, Climate type, Sensitive regions