Air temperature, soil temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction were observed at the sloped and lowland areas of the Turfan Basin from Nov. 26 to 28, 1991 and the characteistics of inversion layer, cold air current and temperature resources were made clear as follows:
(1) Profiles of air temperature and relative humidity showed symmetrical changing patterns. Occurrence rate and intensity of temperature inversion were high in an early morning under weak wind on clear-fine day in winter. Averaged daily maximum and minimum gradients were 0.80°C/m and temperature inversion of -2.0°C/m, respectively in winter. Vertical profiles of wind speed expressed stable or unstable patterns shifted from the log-low profile.
(2) Air temperature increases with the increase of wind speed in night and vice versa. The changing pattern of 3 hour cycle was observed at the Turfan Desert Research Station of -80m in a lowland area of the basin.
(3) The higher inversion layer and trailing smoke were observed at the level of about 500m and not destroyed even in the daytime.
(4) The temperature diffence of inversion between the sloped area and lowland area near the basin bottom was 2°C at noon, 4°C at night and 8°C in an early morning, and temperature resources of thermal belt seem to be useful.
(5) The basin was frequently covered by cold air lake and cold air current also blew down from the sloped area of Flaming Mountain and several inversion layers were recognized. The “warm” wind of cold air current was also useful as temperature resources.
(6) Temperature resources of thermal belt and warm wind were partially used for agriculture and husbandry, however, they are rare cases. Therefore, it is hopeful and necessary to expand the utilizations hereafter.