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The response of surface radiation and water-heat flux to soil moisture is a critical mechanism in drought, desertification and other effects of climate change. This study analyzed soil moisture data and four-component radiation data during the summers (June, July and August) from 2010 to 2018 in a desert steppe environment of Inner Mongolia. The influence of soil moisture on the radiation flux and water-heat flux under dry, intermediate and wet conditions were quantified through correlation analysis. Radiation and water-heat fluxes showed obvious diurnal changes under different soil moisture conditions. Net longwave radiation and soil heat flux showed the largest differences in diurnal variation followed by net surface radiation, total flux and albedo. Net radiation, net longwave radiation, surface received longwave radiation, soil heat flux and total flux all increased with increasing soil moisture, while surface reflection ability decreased. Soil moisture during wet intervals (16.57-28%) showed a stronger correlation with fluxes than dry and intermediate intervals (9.78-16.46%). This indicates that soil moisture exerts a stronger influence on surface flux under moist conditions. Soil moisture showed a negative correlation with surface reflecting longwave radiation (P<0.01) and a positive correlation with net longwave radiation, net surface radiation and total flux (P<0.01). The research shows that soil moisture interacts with the atmospheric system through its influence on total flux (sensible heat and latent heat) and surface net radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]