Characteristics of Turbulent Transport in Different Areas of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Its Relationship with Meteorological Factors

Using the data from the third Qinghai–Tibet Plateau atmospheric science observation experiment, the turbulent transport characteristics of sensible heat flux and latent heat flux exchange in different areas of the plateau and their relationship with meteorological factors were systematically studied. The following results show that: (1) The sensible heat flux and latent heat flux vary greatly among different stations in the plateau, but in most areas, the latent heat flux is greater than the sensible heat flux during the rainy season. Shiquanhe station is a dry alpine desert area with very little precipitation; the sensible heat flux is much greater than the latent heat flux all year, and the average annual Bowen ratio can reach 20.0. From April to October, the latent heat flux is significantly greater than the sensible heat flux in the wet region of Biru and Jiali stations, with the Bowen ratio ranging from 0.28 to 0.88. (2) The seasonal variation of sensible heat flux and latent heat flux over the plateau is closely related to the geographical location of the plateau monsoon. The sensible heat flux in the central plateau reaches its maximum value from March to May, while that in the western plateau reaches its maximum value from April to June, which may be related to the activity of the plateau monsoon. (3) The correlation analysis with meteorological elements shows that the sensible heat flux in the Shiquanhe station of the western plateau has the most significant positive correlation with the temperature difference between ground and air, and the correlation coefficient for the entire year can reach 0.905, and the correlation coefficients were all greater than 0.79 in the four seasons, which may be related to the fact that the underlying surface is bare. The positive correlation between sensible heat flux and wind speed at the Anduo and Naqu stations was strongest in the summer; the positive correlation between sensible heat flux and wind speed at the Biru station was strongest in the winter, and the positive correlation between sensible heat flux and wind speed at the Shiquanhe station is strongest in the spring and summer.