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In order to identify impacts of photovoltaic (PV) power plant on surface radiation, this paper conducted a comparative study on the surface radiation and surface albedo characteristics between the PV site and reference site in the Gobi area in Xinjiang, China in the summer of 2020. The results show that, the upward long-wave radiation at the PV site was significantly lower than that at the reference site in the night, while the two were basically the same during the daytime. The average surface albedo at the PV site (0.14) was 39.1% lower than that at the reference site (0.23). Net radiation was higher at the PV site than that at the reference site throughout the whole day. The average net radiation of the underlying surface at the PV site was 30.7% more than that at the reference site, 75% of which was contributed by lower upward shortwave radiation and 25% was due to nocturnal lower upward longwave radiation at the PV site. • Average surface albedo at photovoltaic power site decreases 39.1%. • Upward long-wave radiation at photovoltaic power site decreases significantly. • Average net radiation at photovoltaic power site increases 30.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microclimate and soil characteristics under Gobi PV arrays were first observed. • South-facing PV panels reduced wind speed with the prevailing northerly wind below. • PV panels had buffer effects on microclimate and soil thermal regime change. • Annual net radiation reduction was up to 92.68% since the shading of PV. • The significant increase in relative humidity during winter was caused by snow cover. The high demand for low-carbon energy sources to mitigate climate change has prompted a rapid increase in ground-mounted solar parks. The implementation of photovoltaic (PV) significantly impacted the local climate and ecosystem, which are both poorly understood. To investigate the effects of a typical solar park on the Gobi ecological system, local microclimate and soil thermal regimes were measured year-round under and between PV arrays, at an applied solar park sited in Xinjiang, China. Our results demonstrated their seasonal and diurnal changes. Under solar PV arrays, the mean annual net radiation and wind speed decreased by 92.68 % and 50.53 % respectively. In contrast, PV panels caused an increase of the rear sides air by 10.12 % with 0.87 °C. South-facing PV panels reduced wind speed with the prevailing northerly wind below. In addition, the relative humidity rapidly decreased when snow covered the ground, but slightly increased from April to September. We found the soil under PV panels was cooler and tended to be a sink of energy during spring and summer whereas was more often a source during autumn and winter compared with the soil between PV panels. Observed data developed the understanding of the energy processes of solar parks in Gobi ecosystems and provided evidence to support the sustainable management of the solar park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]