The present study documents the variability of surface sensible heat flux over Northwest China using station observations for the period 1961 2000.It is found that the afternoon and nighttime sensible heat flux variations are remarkably different.The variability of the instant flux in the afternoon is much larger than in the nighttime.The afternoon and nighttime flux anomalies tend to be opposite.The diurnal and seasonal dependence of sensible heat flux variations is closely related to the diurnal cycle of mean land-air temperature difference.The relationship of sensible heat flux with land-air temperature difference based on the instant value differs from that based on the daily mean.The present study indicates the importance for the models to properly simulate mean land-air temperature difference and its diurnal and seasonal variations in order to capture surface sensible heat flux variability over Northwest China and predicts its plausible impacts on climate.
The present study investigates the interdecadal variability of seasonal mean surface solar radiation over Northwest China using station observations from 1961-2003. Spring and summer surface solar radiation over Northwest China was lower in the late 1970s through 1990s than in the 1960s through the mid-1970s, and fall and winter surface solar radiation displayed similar patterns. These results indicate that the decrease in spring and summer surface solar radiation may be associated with increased low-cloud cover over Northwest China. Rainfall anomalies were closely related to the low-cloud cover over Northwest China and with the Northern Hemisphere circumglobal teleconnection in spring, summer, and winter.
