Division and evolution of drought and flood phases during the latest 200 years in eastern China

Based on the past 200–year graded data of dryness/wetness in eastern China (24 stations), five phases to show the floods and droughts have been objectively divided by using the approach of cluster analysis of a sequential sample. The characteristics of flood/drought evolution have been described and explained. It is concluded that the floods or droughts occurred more often for the past two centuries, and the normal phase was seldom seen in eastern China. The transitions between floods and droughts are frequently of jumping feature. The extent and the frequency of serious drought or heavy flood in eastern China tended to expand and increase significantly in the last 50 years. Finally, by using the Walsh power spectrum, the periodicity of dryness/wetness graded series has been analysed. It is found that there exist the 2–9 year high-frequency fluctuations in eastern China.