CHARACTERISTICS OF SURFACE AND ATMOSPHERIC HEATING FIELDS OVER QINGHAI-XIZANG PLATEAU DURING THE WINTER IN 1982

Abstract

The surface and atmospheric heating fields over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in winter have been computed by using the observational data of solar radiation obtained during 1982—1983. The main results are as follows: The central and northern part of the Plateau acted as a heat sink in winter from November to January. The area of the heat sink in November was the largest. Two centers of the heat sink in December and Jannary were situated respectively in the Qaidam Basin and the central part of the Plateau around Baingoin-Sog Counties. In January, the maximum intensity of the surface heat sink was —55 cal/cm~2·day. Both the eastern part and southern part of the Plateau were heat sources. The main part of the Plateau acted as a heat sink for the atmospheric heating fields during October—March. The maximum intensity of the atmospheric heat sink over the central part of the Plateau appeared in December and the central intensity was around —255 cal/cm~2. day. The maximum intensity of the atmospheric heat sink over the Qaidam Basin appeared in January and the central intensity was around —270 cal/cm~2.day. In the second pen tad of October, the atmospheric heat source transformed into heat sink and the transformation started from the western and central part of the Plateau, and atmosphere heat sink transformed into heat source in the fourth pentad of March and the transformation started from the southern and eastern parts of the Plateau.