Cold and Wet Island Effect in Mountainous Areas: A Case Study of the Maxian Mountains, Northwest China

Abstract

The Maxian Mountains, characterized by high altitudes and abundant vegetation, create a cooler and more humid environment compared to the surrounding areas, and are highly susceptible to climate change. In order to study the cold and wet island effects in the Maxian Mountains, air temperature and relative humidity (RH) were analyzed using meteorological station data. Additionally, spatial variations were examined by retrieving Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) from 2001 to 2021. The most pronounced cold island effect was observed in the mountainous area during summer, mainly in May and July. The most significant wet island effect was observed from March to May, with an average relative humidity difference of 24.72%. The cold island area index, as an indicator of the cold island effect, revealed an increasing trend in the summer cold island effect in recent years. The cooling intensity ranged from 5 to 10 °C, with variations observed between 500 and 1000 m. A 30% increase in wet island effects in summer was observed, with a humidification intensity within a range of 500 m. Geodetector analysis identified vegetation cover as the primary factor affecting the thermal environment in mountainous areas. The increase in vegetation in mountainous areas was identified as the main reason for enhancing the cold and wet island effects. The findings emphasize the role of vegetation in enhancing cold and wet island effects, which is crucial for understanding and preserving mountainous regions.