Statistical characteristics of the spatial distribution of wind and snow in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Abstract At present, the wind and snow loads are calculated independently when determining the design specifications for building structures. Yet, when snow drifting occurs, the basic wind and snow pressures exist almost simultaneously. Therefore, building specifications based on the independent calculations of the wind and snow loads cannot be used effectively in areas that are severely impacted by snow drifting. Some parts of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China have suffered particularly severe snow drifting natural disasters. In this paper, we offer an analysis of the statistical characteristics of the spatial distribution of wind and snow in this region. In particular, we extract the values of the combined distribution of the wind and snowfall in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China by using parameters such as snowfall intensity, snowfall amount, wind speed, and wind direction as indicators that show the snow drifting disasters. This study found that, after heavy snowfall events, the accumulative wind scale is high and the accumulative snowfall is large in the Altay, the Bortala Mongol Autonomous, and the Tacheng Prefectures of northern Xinjiang, and the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture of western Xinjiang. It has an important practical significance for the design of building structures and the treatment of snow drifting disasters.