This paper reported a comprehensive analysis on the diurnal variation of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) in summer of Badain Jaran Desert and discussed deeply the effect of surface thermal to ABL, including the Difference in Surface-Air Temperature (DSAT), net radiation, and sensible heat, based on limited GPS radiosonde and surface observation data during two intense observation periods of experiments. The results showed that (1) affected by topography of the Tibetan Plateau, the climate provided favorable external conditions for the development of Convective Boundary Layer (CBL), (2) deep CBL showed a diurnal variation of three- to five-layer structure in clear days and five-layer ABL structure often occurred about sunset or sunrise, (3) the diurnal variation of DSAT influenced thickness of ABL through changes of turbulent heat flux, (4) integral value of sensible heat which rapidly converted by surface net radiation had a significant influence on the growth of CBL throughout daytime. The cumulative effect of thick RML dominated the role after CBL got through SBL in the development stage, especially in late summer, and (5) the development of CBL was promoted and accelerated by the variation of wind field and distribution of warm advection in high and low altitude.

The macro- and microphysical characteristics of wintertime precipitating clouds and non-precipitating clouds over the West Tianshan Mountains, China, were analyzed with the use of Ka-band radar and weighing rain gauge observations. The data were collected from January to February 2019, December 2019, and from December 2020 to February 2021. Snowfall clouds mainly ranged from 0.15 ~ 2.50 km and had a reflectivity (Z) of mostly 10 ~ 33 dBZ. Non-snowfall clouds were primarily distributed within the height range of 2 ~ 8 km, and the Z values were within the range of − 22 ~ 15 dBZ. Compared with non-snowfall clouds, snowfall clouds have a higher particle water content (M) but a similar radial velocity (V). Light and moderate snowfall clouds were mainly located at heights of 0.15 ~ 3.50 km and had Z values concentrated from 5 ~ 24 dBZ. Heavy snowfall clouds were characterized by a Z of 5 ~ 30 dBZ below 3.5 km. The proportion of clouds with an M value > 0.1 g·m⁻³ below 2 km was noticeably higher for heavy snow events than for light and moderate snow events. The differences in the distributions and values of snowfall cloud V values were small among the different snow types, and descending motions occurred below 6 km, with V ranging − 1.4 ~ − 0.3 m·s⁻¹. The heights of the non-snowfall cloud top and base during the day were lower than those at night. The snowfall cloud top did not show noticeable diurnal variations. The cloud top and base heights of the non-snowfall clouds both showed a single-peak distribution. The cloud top values of snowfall clouds exhibited bimodal distributions.

Based on hourly precipitation data and FY-2 satellite infrared (IR) digital satellite imagery collected during the warm season from 2005 to 2015 in the Tianshan Mountains and the adjacent areas in Xinjiang, China, the definition of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) was revised based on short-duration heavy precipitation processes. The spatiotemporal development of MCSs in terms of the initiation, maturation, dissipation, duration, and movement was statistically analyzed. Most mesoscale systems in the area were dominated by meso-β convective systems (M_βCSs), which was in line with the annual heavy precipitation frequency. In meso-α convective systems (M_αCSs), persistent elongated convective systems (PECSs) occurred more commonly than mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs). MCSs were common in summer, with the peak frequency of M_αCS occurrence in June and the peak frequency of M_βCS occurrence mainly in July and August. From the perspective of diurnal variations, MCSs initiated in the late afternoon, developed during the evening, and dissipated before midnight. MCSs in general lasted 6∼9 h between June and July and 9∼11 h in August. The M_αCSs lasted approximately 14 h, and the M_βCSs lasted from 7 h to 12 h. The development and termination stages of MCSs lasted 3∼6 h and 2∼7 h, respectively. In low-elevation areas and on the windward slope of the mountains, MCSs initiated more easily and more frequently over the northern and western slopes than that over the southern and eastern slopes. The central area of the Junggar basin hosted the development of MCSs, but the distribution of the convective systems at different scales varied. During the termination stage, these mesoscale systems were mainly located at the basin edges. In terms of tracks, most MCSs moved eastward under the influence of the westerlies and the M_αCSs moved faster but in a more scattered manner than the M_βCSs. Additionally, some unusual tracks appeared because of the effects of the underlying surface topography and environmental wind.

Based on observational data collected during the summer of 2009 from the southern Badain Jaran Desert, the surface sensible and latent heat fluxes and shallow soil thermal storage were obtained through corrections and quality control measures. The soil thermal properties and characteristics of the land surface energy budget before and after rainfall episodes were systematically analyzed. Short-term precipitation had a greater influence than systematic precipitation on the soil temperature (ST) and soil volumetric water content (VWC). After rainfall, the VWC rapidly increased, showing a decreasing growth rate trend with depth and time in all layers; the soil temperature change rate (TCR) exhibited the opposite tendency. The surface albedo, which was affected little by the solar elevation angle and short-term precipitation, fluctuated from low to high during short-term rainfall. The soil thermal parameters, including the volumetric heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and diffusivity, all increased after rainfall. The diurnal soil heat flux variations in each layer manifested as quasisinusoids, and the amplitude gradually decreased with depth. The energy balance ratio (EBR) without and with soil heat storage (S) varied differently; after incorporating S, the EBR increased by approximately 5-6% regardless of rainfall but remained lower afterward. Throughout the observation period, the maximum daytime EBR appeared approximately 1-2 days before or after rainfall and gradually declined otherwise. These findings are fundamental for understanding the influences of cloud and precipitation disturbances on radiation budgets and energy distributions and improving the parameterization of surface radiation budgets and energy balances for numerical models of semiarid areas.

Ultrasonic rangefinder is a measuring instrument in the field of mechanical manufacturing. It is made of the principle of acoustic ranging and is suitable for measuring the distance within 50 meters in the air. The instrument is mainly used in construction engineering, mechanical installation, farmland water conservancy, highway traffic, mine tunnel and garden planning and other occasions. In recent years, ultrasonic rangefinder manufacturing technology and verification technology have been developed by leaps and bounds. At present, the current regulation of ultrasonic rangefinder verification in China is JJG 928-1998 Ultrasonic Rangefinder Verification Regulation. However, due to its compiling year is relatively long, the equipment used has been updated, and some are no longer applicable. Such as counting frequency, ultrasonic emission frequency, temperature compensation, ranging application equation, ranging standard deviation, instrument sensitivity and other items. Therefore, it is imperative to revise the corresponding regulations. , entrusted by the National Surveying, Mapping and Geographic Information Special metrology Testing Technical Committee, China National Institute of Testing Technology is mainly responsible for the revision of JJG 928-1998 "Ultrasonic rangefinder Verification Regulations".