Spatial characteristics analysis of drought disasters in North China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Abstract. This paper studies grade sequence of drought disasters in 21 sites in Ming and Qing Dynasties (1470–1912) in North China. Two aspects are explored, in order to study the spatial distribution and characteristics of drought disaster in North China. The reconstruction of the sequence of drought disaster in North China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties was based on Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and on Rotated Empiric Orthogonal Function (REOF). The drought disaster has been divided into several space models and into several sensitive space areas. It can provide an important basis for the better understanding of the spatial distribution of drought disasters in North China during the historical period. The research's results show that: the frequency is high in northern area and is low in southern area of North China. The frequency of drought intensity is high in South-East, low in West China. Meanwhile, the North China can be divided into six main sensitive regions: Middle-east of North China, west of North China, South of North China, East of North China, North-east and North-west of North China.