The marine hydrological process is still unclear due to scarce observations.Based on stable water isotopes in surface seawater along the 33rd Chinese National Antarctic Science Expedition from November 2016 to April 2...The marine hydrological process is still unclear due to scarce observations.Based on stable water isotopes in surface seawater along the 33rd Chinese National Antarctic Science Expedition from November 2016 to April 2017,this study explored the hydrological processes in the Pacific,Indian and Southern oceans.The results show that the Northwest Pacific(0°–26°N)is a region with strong evaporation(theδ18O-δD slope is 6.58),while the southern Indian Ocean is a region with strong precipitation(theδ18O-δD slope is 9.57).The influence of continental runoff and water mass mixing reduces the correlation betweenδ18O and salinity in the eastern Indian Ocean.The characteristics of the isotopes and hydrological parameters indicate that the Agulhas Front and sub-Tropical Convergence do not merge in the Antarctic–Indian Ocean region.The freezing of sea ice near the Antarctic continent decreases theδ18O andδD by 0.40‰and 7.0‰,respectively,compared with those near 67°S.This study is helpful for understanding marine hydrological processes and promoting the understanding and research of the nature of ocean responses in the context of climate change.展开更多
Due to global warming, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau(TP) are experiencing widespread shrinkage; however, the mechanisms controlling glacier variations across the TP are still rather unclear, especially on the northe...Due to global warming, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau(TP) are experiencing widespread shrinkage; however, the mechanisms controlling glacier variations across the TP are still rather unclear, especially on the northeastern TP. In this study, a physically based, distributed surface-energy and mass-balance model was used to simulate glacier mass balance forced by meteorological data. The model was applied to Laohugou No. 12 Glacier, western Qilian Mountains, China, during2010~2012. The simulated albedo and mass balance were validated and calibrated by in situ measurements. The simulated annual glacier-wide mass balances were-385 mm water equivalent(w.e.) in 2010/2011 and-232 mm w.e. in 2011/2012,respectively. The mean equilibrium-line altitude(ELA) was 5,015 m a.s.l., during 2010~2012, which ascended by 215 m compared to that in the 1970 s. The mean accumulation area ratio(AAR) was 39% during the two years. Climatic-sensitivity experiments indicated that the change of glacier mass balance resulting from a 1.5 °C increase in air temperature could be offset by a 30% increase in annual precipitation. The glacier mass balance varied linearly with precipitation, at a rate of130 mm w.e. per 10% change in total precipitation.展开更多
In June 2006,a 20.12 m shallow ice core was recovered from an elevation of 5,040 m in the northern branch firn basin of No.12 Glacier,Great Snow Mountain,in the western part of Qilian Mountain,China.Isotopes(δ 18 O),...In June 2006,a 20.12 m shallow ice core was recovered from an elevation of 5,040 m in the northern branch firn basin of No.12 Glacier,Great Snow Mountain,in the western part of Qilian Mountain,China.Isotopes(δ 18 O),major soluble ions,and radionuclide(β-activity) measurements from the ice core revealed a 46-year record(1960-2006).In this paper,the method of sea-salt ion tracer,correlation analysis and trend analysis were used in this research to confirm the source of the chemical composition.The correlation analysis and HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis suggests that atmospheric soluble dust species dominate the chemical signature.展开更多
Recent snow height measurements(2008–15) from nine automatic weather stations(AWSs) on the Ross Ice Shelf are used to examine the synoptic and seasonal variability in snow accumulation,and also to evaluate the perfor...Recent snow height measurements(2008–15) from nine automatic weather stations(AWSs) on the Ross Ice Shelf are used to examine the synoptic and seasonal variability in snow accumulation,and also to evaluate the performance of the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System(AMPS) for precipitation. The number of snow accumulation events varies from one station to another between 2008 and 2015,thus demonstrating geographic dependence. The interannual variability in snow accumulation is too high to determine its seasonality based on the current AWS observations with limited time coverage.Comparison between the AMPS and AWS snow height measurements show that approximately 28% of the AWS events are reproduced by AMPS. Furthermore,there are significant correlations between AMPS and AWS coincident event sizes at five stations(p < 0.05). This finding suggests that AMPS has a certain ability to represent actual precipitation events.展开更多
“Earth summit mission 2022”is one of the landmark scientific research activities of the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP).This scientific expedition firstly used advanced technology and...“Earth summit mission 2022”is one of the landmark scientific research activities of the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP).This scientific expedition firstly used advanced technology and methods to detect vertical meteorological elements and produce forecasts for mountain climbing.The“Earth summit mission 2022”Qomolangma scientific expedition exceeded an altitude of over 8000 meters for the first time and carried out a comprehensive scientific investigation mission on the summit of Mt.Qomolangma.Among the participants,the westerly–monsoon synergy and influence team stationed in the Mt.Qomolangma region had two tasks:1)detecting the vertical structure of the atmosphere for parameters such as wind,temperature,humidity,and pressure with advanced instruments for high-altitude detection at the Mt.Qomolangma base camp;and 2)observing extreme weather processes to ensure that members of the mountaineering team could successfully reach the top.Through this scientific expedition,a better understanding of the vertical structure and weather characteristics of the complex area of Mt.Qomolangma is gained.展开更多
Ice documentation and response to prominent warming, especially after the 1990s, is further investigated because it is concerned whether ice records have absence. A δ^18O series of a Laohugou (LHG) shallow ice core...Ice documentation and response to prominent warming, especially after the 1990s, is further investigated because it is concerned whether ice records have absence. A δ^18O series of a Laohugou (LHG) shallow ice core (20.12 m) in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau was reconstructed covering the period of 1960–2006. The ice core δ^18O record had sig-nificant positive correlations with the warm season (May–September) air temperatures at adjacent meteorological stations and the 500 hPa temperatures in boreal China, indicating that the δ^18O record could be considered a credible proxy of regional temperature. A clear, cold temperature event in 1967 and rapid warming after the 1990s were captured in the LHG δ^18O series, revealing that it could record extreme air-temperature events on both regional and global scales. The LHG δ^18O variations had evident positive correlations with both the summer surface outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) in the Mongolia region and the summer meridional wind at 500 hPa in the LHG region during 1960–2006, suggesting that the increased OLR in the Mongolia region might have intensified the Mongolia Low and expanded the pressure gradient to the LHG region (the Shulehe High), which would have pushed the westerlies further north and suppressed southward incursions of cold air into the LHG region, and thus augmented the temperature rise. The regional atmospheric circulation difference (1985–2006 minus 1960–1984) suggested that the anticyclone in the Mongolia region might have developed the easterly wind, which transported warmer air from the east toward the LHG region and weakened the cold penetration of the westerlies, resulting in the temperature rise since the middle 1980s.展开更多
In order to thoroughly investigate the diversity of glacier microorganisms, four DNA extraction methods with differem lysis pat- terns were tested and two screened methods (the Bosshard-Bano method and the Zhou metho...In order to thoroughly investigate the diversity of glacier microorganisms, four DNA extraction methods with differem lysis pat- terns were tested and two screened methods (the Bosshard-Bano method and the Zhou method) were optimized for the most ef- fective form of the filter membrane (cut vs. uncut), the DNA extraction method, and the precipitation method. The two optimized methods were then compared with the commercial Mo-Bio DNA extraction kit, and the results showed that the kit was generally suitable for extraction of microorganism DNA fi'om glacier surface snow. Procedurally, it was found that a modified Boss- hard-Bano method (i.e., cutting the filter membrane into pieces, using a specific lysis pattern [lysozyme (5 mg/mL)-protease K ( 1 mg/mL)-CTAB ( 1%)-SDS ( 1%)], performing the extraction only once by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol (24: 1), and conducting DNA precipitation by pure ethanol) was also an effective and less expensive method for extraction of microorganism DNA from glacier surface snow.展开更多
This study reconstructed the annual mass balance(MB)of Laohugou Glacier No.12 in the western Qilian Mountains during 1961–2015.The annual MB was calculated based on a temperature-index and an accumulation model with ...This study reconstructed the annual mass balance(MB)of Laohugou Glacier No.12 in the western Qilian Mountains during 1961–2015.The annual MB was calculated based on a temperature-index and an accumulation model with inputs of daily air temperature and precipitation recorded by surrounding meteorological stations.The model was calibrated by in-situ MB measurements conducted on the glacier during 2010–2015.Change in constructed annual MB had three phases.During Phase Ⅰ(1961-1984),glacier-wide MB values were slightly positive with an average MB of 24±276 mm w.e.(water equivalent).During Phase Ⅱ(1984-1995),the MB values became slightly negative with an average MB of?50±276 mm w.e..The most negative MB values were found during Phase Ⅲ(1996–2015),with an average MB of?377±276 mm w.e.Climatic analysis showed that the warming led to accelerated glacier mass loss despite a persistent increase of precipitation during the analysis period.However,an increase of black carbon deposited on the glacier surface since the 1980s could have contributed to intensified glacier melt.From simulations and measurements of MB on the Urumqi Glacier No.1,26%of glacier melt caused by black carbon could be identified.展开更多
Black carbon (BC) concentration and meteorological data are measured discontinuously from May 2009 to March 2011,at the Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecologic Environment (hereafter "QSSGEE"),located nea...Black carbon (BC) concentration and meteorological data are measured discontinuously from May 2009 to March 2011,at the Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecologic Environment (hereafter "QSSGEE"),located near the terminal of the Laohugou No.12 Glacier in northwestern Qilian Shan,China.We measured the daily,monthly and seasonal variations of BC concentration in the atmosphere and discussed the possible emission sources.Black carbon background concentration in this region varied in the range of 18–72 ng/m 3 with the highest in summer and the lowest in autumn.The relations between BC concentration and surface wind direction indicated that BC concentration was higher when northwest wind prevails while lower when southeast wind prevails.Air masses backward trajectories showed the potential emission sources in the northwest.Significant positive correlations between daily mean BC concentration and relative humidity indicated that BC might be one of important cloud condensation nuclei.This hypothesis needs to be confirmed further through cloud microphysical features in this region.展开更多
In June 2006, samples were collected from a 90 cm snow-pit at an elevation of 5 040 m a.s.l, in the northern branch firn basin of the Glacier No. 12, Laohugou Valley, in the western part of Qilian Mountain, China. Oxy...In June 2006, samples were collected from a 90 cm snow-pit at an elevation of 5 040 m a.s.l, in the northern branch firn basin of the Glacier No. 12, Laohugou Valley, in the western part of Qilian Mountain, China. Oxygen isotopes (6180) and major soluble ions were measured. Results showed that Ca2+ is the dominant cation, and SO42 is the dominant anion. All major ions have close positive correlations with eachother except NO3 and NH4+. 6180 show positive correlation with air temperature. The method of correlation analysis, sea-salt ion tracer and trend analysis were used to determine the source of the chemical components. The correlation analysis and HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis suggest that atmospheric soluble dust species dominate the chemical signature.展开更多
The study of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in northeastern Tibetan Plateau with fragile ecological environment and complex atmospheric circulation system is blank. To understand the characteristic...The study of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in northeastern Tibetan Plateau with fragile ecological environment and complex atmospheric circulation system is blank. To understand the characteristics and sources of persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we monitored levels in the central Qilian Mountain. From 2016 to 2017, we collected 45-pair(particle + gas) samples using active air samplers to investigate the sources, transport paths, and their influencing factors.Sources of PAHs were analysed with a source diagnostic model, and atmospheric transport paths were calculated. The concentration range for Σ15PAHs was 439–4666 pg/m^(3), and the average was 2015 pg/m^(3). The PAHs in central Qilian Mountain are mainly low molecular weight(LMW) PAHs. Winter concentrations of PAHs were higher than those in summer. The transport of PAHs is mainly affected by westerlies, and there are seasonal differences. Source analysis showed that PAHs mainly came from coal and biomass combustion and vehicle emissions, with seasonal differences. This study clarifies the concentration and seasonal variation of PAHs in the northern Tibetan Plateau, which is conducive to understanding the atmospheric transport process and fate of pollutants. The background site of Qilian Mountains located in the Silk Road economic belt has the value and significance of longterm observation of pollutants.展开更多
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42122047the Basic Research Fund of Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences under contract Nos 2021Z006,2023Z015 and 2023Z005the Chinese National Antarctic Science Expedition.
文摘The marine hydrological process is still unclear due to scarce observations.Based on stable water isotopes in surface seawater along the 33rd Chinese National Antarctic Science Expedition from November 2016 to April 2017,this study explored the hydrological processes in the Pacific,Indian and Southern oceans.The results show that the Northwest Pacific(0°–26°N)is a region with strong evaporation(theδ18O-δD slope is 6.58),while the southern Indian Ocean is a region with strong precipitation(theδ18O-δD slope is 9.57).The influence of continental runoff and water mass mixing reduces the correlation betweenδ18O and salinity in the eastern Indian Ocean.The characteristics of the isotopes and hydrological parameters indicate that the Agulhas Front and sub-Tropical Convergence do not merge in the Antarctic–Indian Ocean region.The freezing of sea ice near the Antarctic continent decreases theδ18O andδD by 0.40‰and 7.0‰,respectively,compared with those near 67°S.This study is helpful for understanding marine hydrological processes and promoting the understanding and research of the nature of ocean responses in the context of climate change.
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-EW-G03-04)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41721091,41671071)Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering(No.2017490711)
文摘Due to global warming, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau(TP) are experiencing widespread shrinkage; however, the mechanisms controlling glacier variations across the TP are still rather unclear, especially on the northeastern TP. In this study, a physically based, distributed surface-energy and mass-balance model was used to simulate glacier mass balance forced by meteorological data. The model was applied to Laohugou No. 12 Glacier, western Qilian Mountains, China, during2010~2012. The simulated albedo and mass balance were validated and calibrated by in situ measurements. The simulated annual glacier-wide mass balances were-385 mm water equivalent(w.e.) in 2010/2011 and-232 mm w.e. in 2011/2012,respectively. The mean equilibrium-line altitude(ELA) was 5,015 m a.s.l., during 2010~2012, which ascended by 215 m compared to that in the 1970 s. The mean accumulation area ratio(AAR) was 39% during the two years. Climatic-sensitivity experiments indicated that the change of glacier mass balance resulting from a 1.5 °C increase in air temperature could be offset by a 30% increase in annual precipitation. The glacier mass balance varied linearly with precipitation, at a rate of130 mm w.e. per 10% change in total precipitation.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2007CB411501)the National Essential Scientific Program of the Ministry of Scienceand Technology of the People’s Republic of China(2006FY110200)
文摘In June 2006,a 20.12 m shallow ice core was recovered from an elevation of 5,040 m in the northern branch firn basin of No.12 Glacier,Great Snow Mountain,in the western part of Qilian Mountain,China.Isotopes(δ 18 O),major soluble ions,and radionuclide(β-activity) measurements from the ice core revealed a 46-year record(1960-2006).In this paper,the method of sea-salt ion tracer,correlation analysis and trend analysis were used in this research to confirm the source of the chemical composition.The correlation analysis and HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis suggests that atmospheric soluble dust species dominate the chemical signature.
基金funded by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (Grant No.2013CBA01804)the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.41206175 and 41576182)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Introduction of Talent by Shandong Normal University
文摘Recent snow height measurements(2008–15) from nine automatic weather stations(AWSs) on the Ross Ice Shelf are used to examine the synoptic and seasonal variability in snow accumulation,and also to evaluate the performance of the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System(AMPS) for precipitation. The number of snow accumulation events varies from one station to another between 2008 and 2015,thus demonstrating geographic dependence. The interannual variability in snow accumulation is too high to determine its seasonality based on the current AWS observations with limited time coverage.Comparison between the AMPS and AWS snow height measurements show that approximately 28% of the AWS events are reproduced by AMPS. Furthermore,there are significant correlations between AMPS and AWS coincident event sizes at five stations(p < 0.05). This finding suggests that AMPS has a certain ability to represent actual precipitation events.
基金funded by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2019QZKK0103)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20060101)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.91837208,41830650).
文摘“Earth summit mission 2022”is one of the landmark scientific research activities of the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP).This scientific expedition firstly used advanced technology and methods to detect vertical meteorological elements and produce forecasts for mountain climbing.The“Earth summit mission 2022”Qomolangma scientific expedition exceeded an altitude of over 8000 meters for the first time and carried out a comprehensive scientific investigation mission on the summit of Mt.Qomolangma.Among the participants,the westerly–monsoon synergy and influence team stationed in the Mt.Qomolangma region had two tasks:1)detecting the vertical structure of the atmosphere for parameters such as wind,temperature,humidity,and pressure with advanced instruments for high-altitude detection at the Mt.Qomolangma base camp;and 2)observing extreme weather processes to ensure that members of the mountaineering team could successfully reach the top.Through this scientific expedition,a better understanding of the vertical structure and weather characteristics of the complex area of Mt.Qomolangma is gained.
基金supported by the Global Change Research Program of China (No. 2013CBA01801)the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41225002, 41371091, and 41121001)
文摘Ice documentation and response to prominent warming, especially after the 1990s, is further investigated because it is concerned whether ice records have absence. A δ^18O series of a Laohugou (LHG) shallow ice core (20.12 m) in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau was reconstructed covering the period of 1960–2006. The ice core δ^18O record had sig-nificant positive correlations with the warm season (May–September) air temperatures at adjacent meteorological stations and the 500 hPa temperatures in boreal China, indicating that the δ^18O record could be considered a credible proxy of regional temperature. A clear, cold temperature event in 1967 and rapid warming after the 1990s were captured in the LHG δ^18O series, revealing that it could record extreme air-temperature events on both regional and global scales. The LHG δ^18O variations had evident positive correlations with both the summer surface outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) in the Mongolia region and the summer meridional wind at 500 hPa in the LHG region during 1960–2006, suggesting that the increased OLR in the Mongolia region might have intensified the Mongolia Low and expanded the pressure gradient to the LHG region (the Shulehe High), which would have pushed the westerlies further north and suppressed southward incursions of cold air into the LHG region, and thus augmented the temperature rise. The regional atmospheric circulation difference (1985–2006 minus 1960–1984) suggested that the anticyclone in the Mongolia region might have developed the easterly wind, which transported warmer air from the east toward the LHG region and weakened the cold penetration of the westerlies, resulting in the temperature rise since the middle 1980s.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 40825017, 40576001 and 31100369)
文摘In order to thoroughly investigate the diversity of glacier microorganisms, four DNA extraction methods with differem lysis pat- terns were tested and two screened methods (the Bosshard-Bano method and the Zhou method) were optimized for the most ef- fective form of the filter membrane (cut vs. uncut), the DNA extraction method, and the precipitation method. The two optimized methods were then compared with the commercial Mo-Bio DNA extraction kit, and the results showed that the kit was generally suitable for extraction of microorganism DNA fi'om glacier surface snow. Procedurally, it was found that a modified Boss- hard-Bano method (i.e., cutting the filter membrane into pieces, using a specific lysis pattern [lysozyme (5 mg/mL)-protease K ( 1 mg/mL)-CTAB ( 1%)-SDS ( 1%)], performing the extraction only once by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol (24: 1), and conducting DNA precipitation by pure ethanol) was also an effective and less expensive method for extraction of microorganism DNA from glacier surface snow.
基金The work were supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.QYZDJ-SSW-DQC039)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41630754,41721091)+2 种基金the Science and Technology planning Project of Gansu Province(No.18JR4RA002)the Project of the State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences(Nos.SKLCS-OP-2018-06,SKLCS-OP-2019-01)Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering(No.2017490711).
文摘This study reconstructed the annual mass balance(MB)of Laohugou Glacier No.12 in the western Qilian Mountains during 1961–2015.The annual MB was calculated based on a temperature-index and an accumulation model with inputs of daily air temperature and precipitation recorded by surrounding meteorological stations.The model was calibrated by in-situ MB measurements conducted on the glacier during 2010–2015.Change in constructed annual MB had three phases.During Phase Ⅰ(1961-1984),glacier-wide MB values were slightly positive with an average MB of 24±276 mm w.e.(water equivalent).During Phase Ⅱ(1984-1995),the MB values became slightly negative with an average MB of?50±276 mm w.e..The most negative MB values were found during Phase Ⅲ(1996–2015),with an average MB of?377±276 mm w.e.Climatic analysis showed that the warming led to accelerated glacier mass loss despite a persistent increase of precipitation during the analysis period.However,an increase of black carbon deposited on the glacier surface since the 1980s could have contributed to intensified glacier melt.From simulations and measurements of MB on the Urumqi Glacier No.1,26%of glacier melt caused by black carbon could be identified.
基金supported by the Global Change Research Program of China (No. 2010CB951401)the "Talent Project" of Chinese Academy of Sciences,National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40901046)+1 种基金the State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences (No. SKLCS-ZZ-2008-01)the China Meteorological Administration (No. GYHY201106023)
文摘Black carbon (BC) concentration and meteorological data are measured discontinuously from May 2009 to March 2011,at the Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecologic Environment (hereafter "QSSGEE"),located near the terminal of the Laohugou No.12 Glacier in northwestern Qilian Shan,China.We measured the daily,monthly and seasonal variations of BC concentration in the atmosphere and discussed the possible emission sources.Black carbon background concentration in this region varied in the range of 18–72 ng/m 3 with the highest in summer and the lowest in autumn.The relations between BC concentration and surface wind direction indicated that BC concentration was higher when northwest wind prevails while lower when southeast wind prevails.Air masses backward trajectories showed the potential emission sources in the northwest.Significant positive correlations between daily mean BC concentration and relative humidity indicated that BC might be one of important cloud condensation nuclei.This hypothesis needs to be confirmed further through cloud microphysical features in this region.
基金supported by the Foundation for Excellent Youth Scholars of CAREERI, CAS (No. 51Y25B01)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41301064)the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2007CB411501)
文摘In June 2006, samples were collected from a 90 cm snow-pit at an elevation of 5 040 m a.s.l, in the northern branch firn basin of the Glacier No. 12, Laohugou Valley, in the western part of Qilian Mountain, China. Oxygen isotopes (6180) and major soluble ions were measured. Results showed that Ca2+ is the dominant cation, and SO42 is the dominant anion. All major ions have close positive correlations with eachother except NO3 and NH4+. 6180 show positive correlation with air temperature. The method of correlation analysis, sea-salt ion tracer and trend analysis were used to determine the source of the chemical components. The correlation analysis and HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis suggest that atmospheric soluble dust species dominate the chemical signature.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41971073)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program (No. 2019QZKK0106)。
文摘The study of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in northeastern Tibetan Plateau with fragile ecological environment and complex atmospheric circulation system is blank. To understand the characteristics and sources of persistent organic pollutants in the atmosphere of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we monitored levels in the central Qilian Mountain. From 2016 to 2017, we collected 45-pair(particle + gas) samples using active air samplers to investigate the sources, transport paths, and their influencing factors.Sources of PAHs were analysed with a source diagnostic model, and atmospheric transport paths were calculated. The concentration range for Σ15PAHs was 439–4666 pg/m^(3), and the average was 2015 pg/m^(3). The PAHs in central Qilian Mountain are mainly low molecular weight(LMW) PAHs. Winter concentrations of PAHs were higher than those in summer. The transport of PAHs is mainly affected by westerlies, and there are seasonal differences. Source analysis showed that PAHs mainly came from coal and biomass combustion and vehicle emissions, with seasonal differences. This study clarifies the concentration and seasonal variation of PAHs in the northern Tibetan Plateau, which is conducive to understanding the atmospheric transport process and fate of pollutants. The background site of Qilian Mountains located in the Silk Road economic belt has the value and significance of longterm observation of pollutants.