Search

[Objectives] The research aimed to study climatic characteristics of hail and risk zoning of its disaster factor in Anhui Province. [Method] Based on the hail-day records from 82 weather stations in Anhui Province, Chinese Meteorological Disaster Dictionary (1951 to 2005) and The Yearbook of Meteorological Disaster in Anhui Province (2006 to 2009), we discussed the climatic characteristic and risk zoning of hail disaster in Anhui Province. [Result]The hail days exhibited significant interdecadal variability, and it had a significant negative correlation with annual mean minimum temperature. The hail usually occurred from March to August, most frequently in June but less in autumn and winter. It most likely took place from afternoon to sunset. The spatial distribution showed that the hail occurred more in northeast of Huaibei, south of Dabie Mountain and some areas of Huangshan Mountain, but less in Jianghuai region. The index of hail intensity was defined by three factors, the diameter, duration and gust grade, and the percentile method was used to grade the intensity of the hail disaster. This work provided a possibility for quantitative assessment of the intensity of hail disaster. The results of hail disaster risk zoning in Anhui Province showed that high risk zones were concentrated in northeast of Huaibei, and low risk zones were mainly in south of Huaihe River. Finally, verified by historic disaster, it showed that the results of risk zoning had a certain rationality and feasibility. [Conclusion] The research could provide reference basis for hail disaster defense and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]