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Abstract: The nonparametric Mann–Kendall test was used to detect the trends of major hydroclimatic variables in the Tarim River Basin, the largest inland river basin in China for the period of 1960–2007. Results showed that both mean annual air temperature and precipitation experienced an increasing trend, while annual streamflow demonstrated a mixed trend of decreasing and increasing: The mountainous region upstream showed an increasing trend and the region downstream exhibited a decreasing trend. Impacts of the increased air temperature on streamflow have shown different characteristics depending on location and seasons: it has positive effect on the runoff at mountainous region due to snowmelt and glacier-melt in spring, but negative effect on the runoff at plain area due to the increase of actual evaporation in summer. In addition, human activity contributed to the declining of streamflow in the arid plain oases at downstream of the Tarim River Basin. The results obtained in this paper can be used as a reference for the planning and management of water resources to maintain the health of the river system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper discusses the sources, spatial distribution, frequency and trend of dust storms in China. Most dust storms in China originate from one of three geographic areas: the Hexi (River West) Corridor and western Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Taklimakan Desert, and the central Inner Mongolia Plateau. Dust is most likely from deteriorated grasslands, Gobi, alluvial, lacustrine sediments and wadis at the outer edge of deserts. But deserts themselves contribute only slightly to the dust storm directly. Two geographic areas frequently have dust storms: one is in the western Tarim Basin, a ground surface of deteriorated land and wadi, but it only affects its neighboring areas, and the other one is in the western Inner Mongolia Plateau, a ground surface of Gobi, alluvial and lacustrine sediments, but it causes most of the dust storms in north China. Generally speaking, dust storms have reduced in most regions of China from the 1950 to 2000. Dust storms are highly correlated with human activities and climate changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper analyses climate change in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley area since the 1950s and compares it with that on the Yunnan plateau (Chuxiong City, Wuding County and Dongchuan City). Annual average temperature, the coldest month average temperature, annual evaporation, annual sunshine hours and annual mean wind speed, all have declined, while the annual rainfall and the average relative humidity have slightly increased. The causes of climate change are chiefly the result of large-scale irrigation in the cultivated land and the restoration of vegetation, and also related to local environmental change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]