A special topography and ultra-high atmospheric boundary layer conditions in the Tarim Basin (TB) lead to the unique spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of dust aerosols. A typical dust storm with persistent floating dust over the TB from 27 April to 1 May 2015 was used to investigate the characteristics of the dust radiative effect using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). Based on reasonable evaluations involving in situ sounding observations, as well as remotely sensed MODIS observations of meteorology, dust aerosols, and the ultra-high atmospheric boundary layer, the simulation characterized the complete characteristics of the dust direct radiative effect (DDRE) during the dust storm outbreak stage and persistent floating dust stage over the TB. During the daytime, the shortwave (SW) radiative effect heated the atmosphere and cooled the land surface (SUR), whereas the longwave (LW) radiative effect had the opposite effect on the TB. Regarding low-level dust, the LW radiative effect was greater than the SW DDRE in the atmosphere, while for high-level dust the situation was reversed. During the nighttime, the LW DDRE at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), at the SUR, and in the atmosphere was less than that during the daytime, when the DDRE at the SUR was the most significant. In contrast to the daytime, the near-surface dust aerosols exerted an LW warming effect in the atmosphere during the nighttime; however, the dust LW radiative effect had a cooling effect from above a 100 m altitude until the top of the dust layer. In contrast, the DDRE heating rate peaked at the top of the dust layer within the TB. The event-averaged net DDRE was 0.53, −5.90, and 6.43 W m⁻² at the TOA, at the SUR, and in the atmosphere over the TB, respectively. The dust SW radiative effect was stronger than the dust L4W radiative effect over the TB at the SUR and in the atmosphere. Moreover, the DDRE at the TOA was weaker than that at the SUR. Overall, the study revealed noteworthy radiative effect features of dust aerosols during typical dust storms with persistent floating dust over the TB.

In the present study, the spatiotemporal and vertical distributions of ice cloud properties and their association with meteorological variables are analyzed for the period 2007–2016 using the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) and Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research (MERRA-2) reanalysis observations. The distribution of ice cloud fraction (ICF) with its peak does not overlap with that of the ice water content (IWC) peak during daytime and nighttime due to the sampling bias. Moreover, the vertical distributions of mean IWC exhibited a vaguely “sharp thorn” at an altitude of ~4 km in all seasons at the location of about ±40°, which can be caused by the artifacts. Furthermore, it is noted that different ice cloud optical depth (ICOD) presents significant changes observed in their diurnal variations in the heights of peaks. The maximum diurnal difference of ice cloud properties occurs in the tropical regions of the North Hemisphere (NH) during summer. We also investigated the relation between ICOD and the meteorological variables and found that the ICOD values are dependent on the meteorological parameters.

Stable boundary layer height (SBLH) is an important parameter to characterize the characteristics and vertical structure of the nocturnal lower atmosphere at night. The distribution of SBLH has obvious spatial and temporal differences, and there are many meteorological factors affecting the SBLH, but at present, there are few quantitative studies on the effects of near-surface meteorological factors on the SBLH in the desert hinterland. This study was based on GPS sounding balloon data, near-surface meteorological observation data, and ERA5 data from Tazhong Station (TZ) in the Taklamakan Desert (TD) collected in July 2017, 2019, and 2021. The variation characteristics of the SBLH and its relationship with near-surface meteorological factors are described. We quantitatively analyzed the degree of influence of near-surface meteorological factors affecting the SBLH and verified it using a model. The study also elucidates the possible formation mechanism of the SBLH in the TD hinterland. The SBLH in the TD hinterland trended upward in July 2017, 2019, and 2021, which is consistent with the changes in meteorological factors, according to the near-surface meteorological observation and ERA5 data. Therefore, we think that an inherent connection exists between near-surface meteorological factors and the SBLH. The results of correlation analysis show that complex internal connections and interactions exist among the meteorological factors near the ground; some thermal, dynamic, and other meteorological factors strongly correlate with the SBLH. Having established the change in SBLH (ΔSBLH) and in major thermal, dynamic, and other meteorological factors (Δ), the linear regression equation between them revealed that near-surface meteorological factors can affect the SBLH. The dynamic factors have a stronger influence on the ΔSBLH than thermal and other factors. The results of model validation based on the variable importance projection (VIP) also confirmed that the SBLH in the TD hinterland is jointly affected by dynamic and thermal factors, but the dynamic factors have a stronger impact. The mechanism through which the SBLH forms is relatively complex. At night, surface radiative cooling promotes the formation of a surface inversion layer, and low-level jets strengthen wind shear, reducing atmospheric stability. The combined effects of heat and dynamics play an important role in dynamically shaping the SBLH. This study helps us with accurately predicting and understanding the characteristics of the changes in and the factors influencing the SBLH in the TD hinterland, providing a reference for understanding the mechanism through which the SBLH forms in this area. At the same time, it provides a scientific basis for regional weather and climate simulation, meteorological disaster defense, air quality forecasting, and model parameterization improvement.

The Taklimakan Desert is a typical arid area. Due to the needs of production and life, a total of 2 km² of constructed green land (hereinafter referred to as CGL) has been formed in the sand dune, resulting in the uniform underlying surface of the desert having been changed, which has led to the change in the near-surface energy distribution pattern and the formation of a local climate of the CGL that is obviously different from that of the desert climate. Therefore, it is necessary to study the varied interval of the threshold of meteorological factors and the regional climate characteristics of the CGL under the background of desert. The main results are as follows. Firstly, from sunrise to noon, the increasing rate of temperature in natural sandy land (hereafter, NSL) was higher than that in CGL, and the opposite results occurred between noon and sunset. The peak temperature of CGL was 2 h later than that of NSL. At night, the temperature at the boundary of the CGL was generally higher than that of the NSL and the central area of the CGL. In addition, the results show that under the combined influence of underlying conditions, local circulation and small terrain, the CGL (middle) daily range of temperature > NSL (west) > CGL (east) > CGL (west). The positive temperature change period of CGL was significantly shorter than that of NSL in all seasons. However, temperature inversion occurred at night in all seasons. The intensity of the temperature inversion was strongest in winter, with a maximum temperature difference of 12.8 °C, followed by autumn, spring, and summer, with a maximum difference of 6.4 °C. Secondly, the wind speed in the daytime was higher than that at night, and the wind speed in NSL was higher than that in CGL. In summer, if the average wind speed of the NSL was quantified as 1.0 m/s, the wind speed lapse rate reached 30% at the boundary of the CGL. Similarly, in the central area of CGL, the wind speed lapse rate reached 71%.