Climate Change and Flood & Drought Disasters in Xinjiang during Recent 50 Years

Located in inland and far from oceans, Xinjiang is well known for the arid climate. Natural disasters occur frequently in this region. The most serious natural disaster here is drought characterized by the vast effected area, long duration, and serious spring drought. Although Xinjiang is famous for its extensive desert and little rainfall, the flood disasters also occur here every year. Frequently occurred natural disasters, especially droughts and floods have damaged lots of properties and lives in the past decades in this region. The incomes of the local people have also been reduced by these disasters. In recent decades, there is a magnifying trend of the drought and flood calamities in this region. The aim of this paper is to analyze the basic features of the flood and drought calamities occurred in Xinjiang from 1949 to 1997. Special attention should be paid to the effects of climate change on the flood and drought disasters.