abe_2004.htm
Bulletin of Glaciological Research 21 (2004)
17-22
©Japanese Society of Snow and Ice
Meteorological characteristics in upstream regions of the Qira River, Kunlun Mountains, China
Osamu ABE1 and Liangwei WANG2
1 Snow and Ice Research Group, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, 1400 Tokamachi, Shinjo 996-0091 Japan
2 Southwest Branch, China Academy of Railway Sciences, 118 Xyuecheng Street, Chengdu 610031 People’s Republic of China
Abstract
The meteorological characteristics at Kartash were investigated using surface data obtained in situ during a 6-year period from September 1991 to August 1997. Kartash is located in the upstream regions of the Qira River, Kunlun Mountains, and its elevation is about 2800 m a.s.l. Local circulation occurs constantly in this area, and wind direction switches frequently throughout the year: northeasterly during the day, to southwesterly at night, along a streamline of the slope. In the monsoon season from May to August, the heaviest rainfall occurs between 1700?2300 (Beijing time) when upstream wind blows as a result of the local circulation. A comparison of monthly air temperatures between Kartash and Qira reveals that the local circulation in summer contains dry air over the desert, and a cold air mass is formed at the foot of the mountains during the winter months.
