我国西北地区是全球典型的干旱气候区，社会发展受到水资源的严重约束，但当前对该地 区空中云水资源的开发利用却明显不足，研究该地区云水资源的时空变化特征及云降水过程，对 于提高该地区云水资源开发利用技术水平具有重要的现实意义。为此，国家自然科学基金区域创 新发展联合基金资助的“西北地区空中云水资源多尺度变化特征与云降水过程研究”课题针对此 问题开展了深入研究。在分析了西北地区云水资源开发利用重要性的基础上，从多大气环流系统 的协同影响、云降水宏微观物理过程的复杂性、沙尘性气溶胶的特殊活化作用、高原边坡地形和大 型山脉的特殊作用以及西北地区气候暖湿化对云水资源影响等多个方面深入讨论了西北地区云 水资源形成和云降水转化机制的科学问题，并探讨了野外观测试验对解决上述科学问题的重要支 撑作用。在此基础上，在此基础上，提出未来应重点关注多尺度环流对西北地区云水资源的协同 影响、云水资源对气候暖湿化的响应特征、高山云系的微物理特征、沙尘气溶胶的活化成云特性、 云—雨转化机制以及云微物理参数化的发展优化6 个重点研究方向，旨在为未来开展西北地区空 中云水资源特征与云降水转化机制研究提供科学指导。

Northwest China is a typical arid region in the world, where social development is severely constrained by limited water resources. However, the current utilization of atmospheric cloud water resources in this region remains significantly inadequate. Investigating the spatiotemporal variations of cloud water resources and cloud-precipitation processes is of great practical importance for advancing the technological capacity to exploit atmospheric water resources in this region. To address this challenge, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has supported the project “Multi-scale Variations of Atmospheric Cloud Water Resources and Cloud-Precipitation Processes in Northwest China” through its Regional Innovation and Development Joint Fund. This study highlights the strategic importance of cloud water resource development in the region and examines the complexity of water formation and precipitation conversion mechanisms. Key influencing factors include the interplay of multiple atmospheric circulation systems, the macro- and microphysical intricacies of cloud processes, the unique activation effects of dust aerosols, the topographic impacts of plateaus and major mountains, and the influence of regional climate warming and humidification. The critical role of field observations in supporting these investigations is also underscored. Based on these insights, the study identifies six key research priorities for the future, including understanding variability patterns, aerosolcloud interactions, cloud-precipitation conversion mechanisms, and advancing cloud microphysical parameterizations. These efforts aim to establish a robust theoretical and technical foundation for the effective utilization of atmospheric water resources in Northwest China.