Long-term Changes in the Spatial Concentration of Daily Precipitation in Japan

Abstract

Daily precipitation data for 105 years (1901 2005) at 51 stations in Japan were analyzed to evaluate the trends in the spatial concentration of precipitation distribution. The index of spatial concentration was defined by the departure of precipitation amount from the average over the surrounding area. It is found that the degree of spatial concentration has an increasing trend, mainly for weak and moderate precipitation. A similar feature is found for precipitation over 5 31 days as well.

Climate Change Impacts in Japan and Southeast Asia: Implications for Crop Adaptation

“…The analysis of 105 years data from 51 stations in Japan has indicated an increase in the spatial concentration of the precipitation (Fujibe and Kobayashi 2007). More hourly heavy precipitations were recorded in Tokyo during 1940s than in 1990s (Kanae et al 2004), dispelling the recent fears that the hourly heavy precipitation events have increased in the city because of climate change.…”