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Characteristics of water cycle in atmosphere in the arid region of northwestern China

Junqiang Yao1, 2, Qing Yang1, 2, Weiyi Mao1, 2, Liu Zhihui3   

  1. (1. Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, 327 Jianguo Road, Urumqi 830002, China;2. Center for Central Asian Atmosphere Science Research, 327 Jianguo Road, Urumqi 830002, China;3. Xinjiang University, College of Resources and Environment Science, Urumqi 830046, China)
  • Received:2017-04-09 Revised:2017-10-25 Online:2018-03-15 Published:2018-04-18

Abstract: The arid region of northwestern China is one of the most sensitively response to global change. Global warming accelerated water cycle, caused by obviously changes of the water cycle in atmospheric. Based on the data analysis and newest research results, this paper analyzes the Characteristics of water cycle in atmosphere and related scientific problems in the arid region of northwestern China. The original daily temperature, precipitation and relative humidity data were collected from 96 meteorological stations in the region and analyzed by a Mann – Kendall test and linear trend. The analysis results show thatthe water vapor and precipitation experienced experienced a “sharply” increase in the late 1980's, however, this sharp increasing trend has turned to an apparent decrease since the 21st century. The eastern northwest water vapor and precipitation decrease obviously, caused by the monsoon intensity weaken. The northwest of Xinjiang and northwest of the Hexi Corridor were sensitive to the water vapor change.The increased stations of the precipitation accounted for 95.9%, and have the elevation-depending wetting, especially in the Tianshan Mountain and Qilian Mountain. The precipitation trend increases signi?cantly with elevation except for the altitude from 500 to 1500 m, the highest correlation appears above 1500 m, increases by 13 mm/decade with each 1000 m. With the elevation increasing every 1000 m, precipitation tendency rate increases by 7 mm/decade from 1000 to 2000 m and increases by 10 mm/decade from 2000 to 4000 m. Average water vapor balance is 2.8×1011 m3, but the precipitation cycle rate is low, middle troposphere water net income increase significantly. Actual evaporation showed a weak decrease trend in the northwest arid region, and the Tianshan Mountain area decreased significantly, while Qilian Mountain region increased significantly. Summer precipitation is given priority to with westerlies water vapor transport, but the low latitude water vapor transport is particularly important when the large scale precipitation process occurred.

Key words: Atmospheric water cycle, Precipitation, Water vapor transmission, The arid region of northwestern China