Characterizing the spatial-temporal patterns of precipitation in the Qilian Mountains, northwestern China over the past four decades
Wang X. Wang K. Wang J. Yuan Y. Pang G. Gou X. Li Y. Wang Q. Liu L. Duisebek B. Kerimbayevich Y.F. Yang M.
December 2025Elsevier B.V.
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
2025#62
Study region: Qilian Mountains (QM), northwestern China. Study focus: Existing research is constrained by two major limitations: the sparse distribution of meteorological stations introduces uncertainties in spatial interpolation and fails to resolve vertical precipitation structures, particularly the maximum precipitation zone in climate-sensitive regions. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation in the QM during the past decades, with a specific focus on the elevational distribution and the maximum precipitation zone. New hydrological insight for the region: Our findings show that the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD) reliably captures monthly/annual precipitation variations in the QM, despite minor underestimations identified through station-based validation. Spatially, CMFD reveals a pronounced east-west precipitation gradient throughout the QM. The maximum precipitation zone occurs between 3900 and 4000 m, yet exhibits notable regional variation—shifting from 3300 m in the east to 4200 m in the west. Since 1979, annual precipitation has shown a significant upward trend with distinct spatial heterogeneity—accelerated increases in the arid western areas contrast with moderate growth in the humid eastern areas. Furthermore, these trends display a pronounced elevation dependency. Both monthly precipitation and total precipitation are concentrated between May and September, particularly at mid-to-high altitudes (3700–4200 m). Annual precipitation and its trends show no pronounced longitudinal or latitudinal gradients, underscoring the dominant role of topography over geographic coordinates in modulating precipitation patterns.
Elevation dependency , In-situ observations , Precipitation product , Precipitation variability , Qilian Mountains
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Key Laboratory of Western Chinas Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Gansu Liancheng Forest Ecosystem Field Observation and Research Station, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730333, China
Faculty of Geomatics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
Department of Water Resources and Melioration, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Scientific and Educational Technology Platform, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Key Laboratory of Western Chinas Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education)
Gansu Liancheng Forest Ecosystem Field Observation and Research Station
Faculty of Geomatics
Department of Water Resources and Melioration
Scientific and Educational Technology Platform
Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering
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