Zhangye City is located in the central part of the Hexi Corridor, bordering on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the south,Badain Jaran Desert in the north, Jiuquan City in the west , Wuwei City in theeast . It belongs to the typical continental grassland desert climate, which is mainly controlled by the westerly circulation in the middle and high latitudes and influenced by thepolar cold air mass. The climate is characterized by dry climate, long coldwinters, short warm summers, less and concentrated precipitation, and windy andsandy weather. The temperature difference between day and night is large, with the annual average temperature of 7.3℃, the coldest in January and the hottest in July.

The following is the statistical information of the climatic characteristics of Zhangye Meteorological Stationin the past 30 years

Annual mean temperature: 7.3℃

Extreme maximum air temperature :39.8℃ ( Jul. 14th,2001)

Extreme minimum temperature :-28.2℃( Dec. 27th,1991)

Extreme maximum surface temperature: 72.9℃ ( Jul. 21th ,1998)

Extreme minimum surface temperature: -32.7℃( Dec.27th,1991)

Average annual precipitation: 130.4mm

Maximum daily precipitation: 34.0 m( Jun.19th,1976)

Annual average evaporation: 2002.5 m

Maximum snow thickness : 10 cm (May 11,1982)

Annual mean station pressure: 852.0 hPa

Average annual relative humidity : 52%

Minimum relative humidity: 0% (5 times)

Annual mean hydraulic pressure : 6.3 hPa

Maximum permafrost depth : 113 cm(Feb. 7th,1984)

Annual average sunshine hours : 3065.6hours

Average number of thunderstorm days peryear : 3.4 days

Annual average number of sandstorm days : 3.9days

Average number of foggy days per year: 0.2day

Annual average wind speed: 2.0m's

Dominant wind: south southeast (S-SSE)

Mean maximum wind speed in 10 minutes : 28.0ms,Wind direction: Northwest (NW),(Apr.22th,1977)