Abstract:The effects of microenvironmental conditions on the observations of surface air temperature within a standard observational field are unclear. In this paper, the surface observation data of a parallel observational experiment at Mohe Station in 2010 are analyzed. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The annual mean temperature at Site A (close to a house) was lower than that of the standard observational field (Site B), but the monthly mean temperature in January and June at Site A was higher than that of Site B. (2) Between 06:00 and 17:00 (BJT), and at 21:00, lower temperature occurred at Site A; between 18:00 and 05:00 (except 21:00), however,mean temperature at Site A was higher. (3) Lower temperature was recorded at the nearobstacle site for all times in spring (March to May); summer (June to August) also saw the relatively lower temperature at Site A from 06:00 to 17:00; autumn (September to November) mean temperature at Site A was higher than that of the observational field only at 01:00, 03:00, 19:00, 23:00, and it was lower for other times; winter (December to February) mean temperature at Site A was generally lower from 07:00 to 19:00, but higher from 20:00 to 06:00 at night. In cold season (October to March), the mean temperature at Site A was lower than that of the observation field in both daytime and nighttime; but in the warm season (April to September) mean temperature at Site A was lower only during daytime, and higher during nighttime. (4) Minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded at approximately the same time at points A and B, but the maximum temperature was lower, and the minimum temperature is higher at Site A. (5) In the fog weather condition, the temperature at Site A was mostly higher than that at Site B; snow and rain weathers were generally characterized by a lower temperature at Site A; sunny days were more likely to experience lower temperature at Site A; and fair nights were more likely to see a higher temperature at Site A; fair and calm weather conditions were more often accompanied by higher temperature at Site A relative to Site B. It is therefore obvious that the surface air temperature observations are very sensitive to the microenvironmental change at Mohe Station.