Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Hourly-Scale Extreme Precipitation in the Sichuan Basin and Its Impact on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Values

Abstract

This study harnesses ground observation data collected between 1980 and 2021 and ERA5 hourly data to thoroughly implement trend and correlation analysis techniques to explore the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of daily and hourly extreme precipitation in the Sichuan Basin. The investigation delineates these characteristics and probes into the potential triggers of extreme hourly rainstorms. The findings unveil the following: (1) A general increase in extreme rainfall volume, contribution rate, intensity, and dispersion, along with a decline in frequency and proportion of rainstorm areas, indicating the concentration of daily-scale severe rainstorms. The basin’s edge receives more precipitation than the bottom, exhibiting latitudinal variations. (2) The northernmost mountainous regions have less frequent, less intense rainstorms influenced by terrain, whereas the northeastern region experiences more frequent, dispersed rainstorms. (3) Extreme hourly rainstorms predominantly occur at night, with rainfall amount, intensity, and frequency declining at 21:00 compared to 19:00. (4) Summer experiences the highest risk of extreme rainstorms, with annual and monthly datasets displaying a rising trend in the frequency, dispersion, and intensity of intense hourly rainstorms. (5) Peak values of extreme hourly rainstorms are growing, with two distinct periods for their frequency: 1:00–9:00 and 10:00–24:00, with an increase in the former and a decrease in the latter. (6) Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values ascend from southwest to northeast within the basin on a ten-day scale, correlating with the distribution of hourly extreme precipitation.