A study on the climatic characteristics of cloud water resources in typical arid areas based on multiple datasets

doi:10.11755/j.issn.1006-7639-2026-02-0208

Abstract

Abstract:

To reveal the spatiotemporal characteristics of cloud water resources in Xinjiang, this study systematically analyzes the variations in cloud amount and cloud water parameters (cloud water content, liquid water content, and ice water content) using satellite data from CloudSat and MODIS for 2007-2019 and reanalysis data from ERA5 for 1979-2024. The results show that all three datasets consistently capture the primary spatial pattern of cloud water parameters, characterized by higher values in mountainous areas and lower values in basins, with ice water content generally exceeding liquid water content. ERA5, with its higher spatial resolution, can more clearly represent terrain-related local features. MODIS shows good agreement with ERA5 in spatial distribution, although its cloud water content is systematically overestimated. CloudSat exhibits differences in spatial distribution in some local regions, while its overall magnitude is comparable to that of ERA5. Cloud water content is higher in summer and lower in winter, with spring and autumn serving as transitional seasons. From 1979 to 2024, cloud amount and cloud water content show significant decreasing trends in the northern Xinjiang Basin and the northern part of the southern Xinjiang Basin, while a significant increasing trend is observed in the central and eastern Kunlun Mountains.

Key words: cloud cover, cloud water content, ice water content, liquid water content, typical arid areas

摘要：

为揭示新疆云水资源的时空分布特征，基于2007—2019年CloudSat和MODIS卫星资料和1979—2024年ERA5再分析资料，系统分析了新疆地区云量及云水参数（云水含量、云液水含量和云冰水含量）的变化特征。结果表明，3种资料均能刻画出新疆云水参数山区高、盆地低的主要空间分布特征，且冰水含量整体高于液水含量。ERA5空间分辨率较高，能够更清晰反映局地地形相关特征；MODIS与ERA5的空间分布一致性较好，但其云水含量存在系统性偏大；CloudSat的空间分布特征在局部区域存在差异，但整体数值与ERA5较为接近。云水含量夏季高、冬季低，春秋季为过渡阶段，各季节冰水含量普遍高于液水含量。1979—2024年北疆盆地和南疆盆地北部云量及云水含量呈显著减少趋势，而昆仑山中东部地区云水含量呈显著增加趋势。

关键词: 云量, 云水含量, 云冰水含量, 云液水含量, 典型干旱区

CLC Number:

P426.52

LI Zhuozhuo, YANG Lianmei, Abulikemu Abuduwaili. A study on the climatic characteristics of cloud water resources in typical arid areas based on multiple datasets[J]. Journal of Arid Meteorology, 2026, 44(2): 208-218.

李卓卓, 杨莲梅, 阿不都外力·阿不力克木. 基于多源数据的典型干旱区云水资源气候特征研究[J]. 干旱气象, 2026, 44(2): 208-218.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 Topography of Xinjiang

Fig.2 Spatial distribution of the mean cloud cover retrieved from ERA5， MODIS and CloudSat over Xinjiang during 2007-2019

Fig.3 Spatial distribution of the annual trend of cloud cover over Xinjiang from 1979 to 2024 (a, Unit: %·a-1), and the interannual variation of mean cloud cover over the basins of northern and southern Xinjiang (b) (The black dots area indicate passing the significance test at 95% confidence level, the same as below; the red rectangles represent the basins of northern and southern Xinjiang, respectively)

Fig.4 Spatial distribution of the mean cloud water content retrieved from ERA5， MODIS and CloudSat over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.5 Spatial distribution of the mean ice water content retrieved from ERA5， MODIS and CloudSat over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.6 Spatial distribution of the mean liquid water content retrieved from ERA5， MODIS and CloudSat over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.7 Spatial distribution of the annual trend in ice water content (a), liquid water content (b), and cloud water content (c) over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 (Unit: %·a-1)

Fig.8 Spatial distribution of differences in cloud water content between MODIS and ERA5 （a） and between CloudSat and ERA5 （b） over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.9 Spatial distribution of seasonal mean cloud water content retrieved from different datasets over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.10 Spatial distribution of seasonal mean ice water content retrieved from different datasets over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.11 Spatial distribution of seasonal mean liquid water content retrieved from different datasets over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

Fig.12 Spatial distribution of seasonal mean standard deviation of cloud water content retrieved from different datasets over Xinjiang during 2007-2019 （Unit： g·m-2）

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