Climate and vegetation in China (I). Changes in the altitudinal lapse rate of temperature and distribution of sea level temperature

Changes in the altitudinal lapse rate of temperature (ALRT) and temperature distribution at sea level were studied all over China, using temperature records from 671 meteorological stations during a statistical period from 1951 to 1980. ALRT varied regularly with distance from the eastern and south eastern coast (DC) with a minimum at about 600 km DC and a maximum at 1600–2000 km DC. The ALRT curve pattern was closely related to the mean altitude. The reliability of this trend was verified by calculating ALRT for each latitude group. Values of ALRT did not show any latitidinal trend within a distance group from the coast. An empirical equation was proposed for the relation between the DC and ALRT, and the ALRT for each meteorological station was estimated from the equation. The annual and monthly mean temperatures at sea level were calculated using the ALRT, and distribution maps were constructed. The isotherms ran almost parallel to latitude in January, and roughly parallel to the coastline in July. High temperatures at sea level were remarkable in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau, Sichuan Basin, Daxingan Ling and the area surrounding the Tien Shan Mountains.