What climate zone does Henan belong to? What type of climate does Henan have?

Introduction: Speaking of Henan, everyone will still remember the heavy rain in Henan on July 10, 2021. This heavy rain took away the lives of some people and caused serious losses to the local area. In fact, our country is a country deeply affected by natural disasters. Understanding weather changes is also helpful for prevention. So, what climate zone does Henan belong to? What type of climate is dominant in Henan? Let’s find out with me below.

What climate zone does Henan belong to?

Most of Henan Province is located in the warm temperate zone, with the south spanning the subtropics. It has a continental monsoon climate that transitions from the northern subtropics to the warm temperate zone. It also has a continental monsoon climate that extends from the east to the east. The climate transition from plains to hills and mountains in the west is characterized by four distinct seasons, rain and heat at the same time, complexity and diversity, and frequent meteorological disasters. The average annual temperature in the province from south to north is 10.5~16.7℃, the average annual precipitation is 407.7~1295.8 mm, with the most rainfall from June to August, the average annual sunshine is 1285.7~2292.9 hours, and the annual frost-free period is 201~285 days, which is suitable for many seasons. Plant crops to grow.

The climate of inland Henan is also affected by the ocean

Henan, located in the central and eastern part of the country, has "cold winters with little rain and snow, springs with drought and windy sand, hot summers with abundant rain, and autumns with sunny and sunny days" The formation of climate characteristics such as "foot" is closely related to the ocean.

Heavy rain weather

First of all, Henan belongs to the monsoon climate zone. The main factor in the formation of monsoons is the thermal difference between the ocean and the land. For the East Asia region, the East Asian continent is the cold source in winter in the northern hemisphere, and the ocean to the east and south of the East Asian continent is the heat source. In summer, the opposite is true, so the summer monsoon blows from the subtropical ocean to the land (souther wind) , the winter wind blows from the high-latitude continent to the ocean (northern wind), and the wind is strong in winter. This thermal difference changes with the seasons, causing the atmospheric circulation in East Asia to change with the seasons, leading to the emergence of the East Asian monsoon.

Secondly, the "subtropical high" that is closely related to the "seven down and eight up" rainy periods in Henan in summer is inseparable from the role of the ocean in its formation, strength, and movement. "Subtropical high" is the abbreviation of subtropical high. It is the rising airflow of the equatorial low-pressure zone. In the process of flowing to the polar high pressure, under the influence of geostrophic deflection force and gravity, the airflow direction is parallel to the latitude near 30 degrees latitude. It hinders the movement of air flow, causing the air to gather and sink, forming dynamic high pressure. The strength and movement of the subtropical high are the "baton" for the distribution of summer rain belts in my country.

Henan’s continued high temperature and lack of rain in the summer of 2019 was caused by the extra-long El Niño event. Although "El Niño" occurs in the remote eastern Pacific and will not directly affect our country's weather and climate, it will have an impact through changes in atmospheric circulation.

Typhoons originating from the ocean are also a typical example of the ocean affecting the inland. The southern side of the western Pacific subtropical high is the main source of typhoons. After the typhoon brought a large amount of water vapor to land, it brought a large amount of precipitation to the local area. For example, in 2018, after Typhoon "Wembia" made landfall, it brought extreme weather such as heavy rains and heavy rainstorms to Shangqiu, Zhoukou and other places in the eastern part of our province.

Flood disaster

At the same time, the ocean is also the main source of atmospheric moisture in Henan. The ocean water vapor that affects precipitation in Henan mainly comes from two places, one is the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, and the other is the northwest Pacific. In spring, water vapor in Henan Province mainly comes from the water vapor brought by the westerly winds in the mid-latitudes. In addition to the water vapor in the southern part, it is also affected by the water vapor in the western Pacific. Along the south side of the subtropical high, it is diverted through the Indo-China Peninsula and the South China Sea and transported to Henan Province. The Indian southwest monsoon strengthens significantly in summer, and water vapor from the Bay of Bengal is transported from southwest to northeast to Henan Province via the Indochina Peninsula and the South China Sea.

In autumn, the water vapor in the northwest Pacific passes through the easterly airflow on the south side of the western Pacific subtropical high, and merges with the water vapor in the Bay of Bengal brought by the weakened southwesterly airflow over the South my country Sea and Indochina Peninsula. Turn to the northeast and transport to Henan Province. In winter, the summer monsoon completely retreats, and Henan is affected by the mid-latitude westerly belt. The westerly air flows through northern Sichuan and Shaanxi and transports water vapor to Henan.