Spatial Distribution and Vertical Variation Characteristics of Air Temperature in the Xisha Area of the South China Sea
OUYANG Haixia
ZHOU Yu
XING Jun
WANG Guozhang
HE Feimiao
Abstract：To enhance the understanding of climate change in the Xisha area of the South China Sea,this study analyzes the vertical variation and spatial distribution characteristics of air temperature from the surface to the upper atmosphere in the Xisha region based on surface and upper-air temperature data from the Xisha Islands from 2018 to 2022.The causes of temperature differences between Zhaoshu Island and Yongx-ing Island are also discussed.The results show that the five-year average temperatures at the automatic weather stations on the islands of the Xisha Islands show no significant differences,all being 27.6℃.The monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures from the surface to 850 hPa are consistent with the variations observed on the islands and reefs in the Xisha area.In the mid-to-upper layers(700-300 hPa),the monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures lag by approximately one month.The temperature variation is largest at 925 hPa and smallest at 500 hPa.There are significant differences in the number of high-temperature days among the islands and reefs,with Zhaoshu Island experiencing up to 317 high-temper-ature days,while Yongxing Island has never recorded temperatures≥35℃.The wind speed on Yongxing Is-land peaks during the noon period,and the stronger winds at noon promote air circulation,leading to lower temperatures.
Keywords：average temperaturehigh temperaturevertical variationXisha area of the South China Sea
Publication Date：2026-02-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-17(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 41-45 )