Gridded climatic datasets with fine spatial resolution can potentially be used to depict the climatic characteristics across the complex topography of China. In this study we collected records of monthly temperature at 1153 stations and precipitation at 1202 stations in China and neighboring countries to construct a monthly climate dataset in China with a 0.025° resolution (~2.5 km). The dataset, named LZU0025, was designed by Lanzhou University and used a partial thin plate smoothing method embedded in the ANUSPLIN software. The accuracy of LZU0025 was evaluated based on three aspects: (1) Diagnostic statistics from the surface fitting model during 1951–2011. The results indicate a low mean square root of generalized cross validation (RTGCV) for the monthly air temperature surface (1.06 °C) and monthly precipitation surface (1.97 mm1/2). (2) Error statistics of comparisons between interpolated monthly LZU0025 with the withholding of climatic data from 265 stations during 1951–2011. The results show that the predicted values closely tracked the real true values with values of mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.59 °C and 70.5 mm, and standard deviation of the mean error (STD) of 1.27 °C and 122.6 mm. In addition, the monthly STDs exhibited a consistent pattern of variation with RTGCV. (3) Comparison with other datasets. This was done in two ways. The first was via comparison of standard deviation, mean and time trend derived from all datasets to a reference dataset released by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), using Taylor diagrams. The second was to compare LZU0025 with the station dataset in the Tibetan Plateau. Taylor diagrams show that the standard deviation, mean and time trend derived from LZU had a higher correlation with that produced by the CMA, and the centered normalized root-mean-square difference for this index derived from LZU and CMA was lower. LZU0025 had high correlation with the Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observation Project (CEOP) - Asian Monsoon Project, (CAMP) Tibet surface meteorology station dataset for air temperature, despite a non-significant correlation for precipitation at a few stations. Based on this comprehensive analysis, we conclude that LZU0025 is a reliable dataset. LZU0025, which has a fine resolution, can be used to identify a greater number of climate types, such as tundra and subpolar continental, along the Himalayan Mountain. We anticipate that LZU0025 can be used for the monitoring of regional climate change and precision agriculture modulation under global climate change.

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Huang, W., Zhao, H. (2019). A monthly air temperature and precipitation gridded dataset on 0.025° spatial resolution in China during（1951-2011）. A Big Earth Data Platform for Three Poles, DOI: 10.1594/PANGAEA.895742. (Download the reference： RIS | Bibtex )

Related Literatures:

1. Zhao, H., Huang, W., Wu, X., Xie, Y.W., Feng, S., Chen, F.H.. (2018). A monthly air temperature and precipitation gridded dataset on 0.025° spatial resolution in China during 1951-2011. PANGAEA, doi: https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.895742.( View Details | Bibtex)

2. Zhao, H. , Huang, W. , Xie, T. , Wu, X. , Xie, Y. , & Feng, S. , et al. (2019). Optimization and evaluation of a monthly air temperature and precipitation gridded dataset with a 0.025° spatial resolution in china during 1951–2011. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 1-17, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-019-02830-y( View Details | Bibtex)

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Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road-A CAS Strategic Priority A Program (No:XDA20000000)

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