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Topographic aspect shapes temperature lapse rates and land–atmosphere energy exchange in global mountains
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DOI：10.1038/s41612-026-01508-3.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Mountain regions exhibit complex thermal gradients that regulate land–atmosphere energy exchange, yet the global influence of topographic aspect on temperature lapse rates (LRT) remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigate global LRT patterns and their sensitivity to topographic aspect based on 1-km resolution satellite-derived land surface temperature observations acquired at consistent overpass times of ~10:30 and 22:30 local time during 1995–2020. We reveal pronounced seasonal and diurnal variability in LRT, with aspect-induced variability ranging from 0.34 °C km−¹ to 1.00 °C km⁻¹ globally. This variability is most pronounced during summer daytime, particularly in coastal and high-latitude mountain regions, where the interplay between solar radiation and maritime influence enhances thermal contrasts across slopes. Furthermore, vegetated surfaces exhibit lower aspect-induced LRT variability than non-vegetated surfaces, highlighting the role of vegetation in moderating radiative forcing and regulating land–atmosphere energy exchange. Our findings demonstrate that topographic aspect is a key control on mountain thermal regimes and atmosphere–biosphere interactions, with important implications for improving climate predictions and ecosystem resilience in complex terrain under ongoing climate change.
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