Work

Characteristics of clouds in the eastern Tianshan Mountains in summer using Ka-band millimeter-wave cloud radar observation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Precipitation from the Tianshan Mountains is one of the primary sources of water resources in Xinjiang. However, due to a lack of observations, fundamental understanding of cloud and precipitation processes in this area remains limited. This study utilises continuous observational data from two Ka-band millimeter-wave cloud radars located on the northern and southern slopes of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains during the summer of 2024 (June–August) to investigate the statistical and diurnal variation characteristics of summer clouds over the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. Results indicate that cloud coverage in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains during summer is significantly lower than in other regions, with cloud thickness generally less than 5 km and predominantly consisting of single-layer clouds Cloud coverage on the northern slope (43.36%) is higher than on the southern slope (32.78%), and both cloud top and base heights are greater on the northern slope than of the southern slope. Under the combined influence of solar radiation and topography, cloud and precipitation processes in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains exhibit pronounced diurnal variations—dominated by convective clouds driven by solar heating during the day and by stratiform clouds induced by radiative cooling at night. Differences of land cover among northern and southern slope, which cause distinct local thermal-dynamical mechanisms, result in vast contrast cloud and precipitation properties in Eastern Tianshan Mountains. This study reveals the statistical and diurnal variation characteristics of summer clouds in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains and to preliminarily establishs a physical conceptual model of cloud precipitation formation mechanisms for the first time. These findings provide a reference for future investigations into the macro- and micro-physical characteristics of cloud precipitation processes and offer theoretical support for cloud water resource development in the region.

Source: Atmospheric Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108926