Beijing faces increasing drought risk as annual precipitation levels decrease.
The study looked at how rainfall in Beijing changed from 1960 to 2012. They found that overall, the amount of rain each year decreased, especially in summer, but increased in spring. Rainfall was heavier in urban areas compared to suburbs and mountains. The researchers used different tests to analyze the data and found that the distribution of rainfall across Beijing stayed uneven over time. The results suggest that urban development and terrain affect where and how much rain falls in the region.