中文摘要：

凝结水是维系干旱、半干旱地区主要食物链的水分来源之一，具有重要的生态意义。较详细地列举了目前国内外在干旱区测定凝结量及其持续时间所采用的研究方法，从凝结水的数量特征以及时间格局两方面阐述了不同地域凝结水的时空差异性，并从气象因素、凝结面的类型及其位置、周边植被对其作用等方面综合分析了影响凝结水发生的主要因素，探讨了干旱区凝结水的生态作用及其意义，展望了干旱区凝结水未来的研究趋势。提出在未来的干旱区凝结水研究中应加强与气象学、生态学等多学科的交叉，从能量平衡角度加强对凝结水量的研究；同时，改进和规范凝结水的测量方法，开展荒漠植被对凝结水的生理响应研究以及凝结水对极端干旱胁迫植物的作用研究。

英文摘要：

Water availability is the most important limiting factor in arid regions. Any additional source of water, such as condensation water, should be considered, especially in summer. Condensation water is the important source of moisture for the primary food chain, thus being an important ecological significance in arid and semiarid regions. The research methodology to determine the amount and duration of condensation water in arid regions at home and abroad was enumerated in the first part of this paper, and then the difference of spatio-temporal was enlarged on from two aspects as the quantitative character and temporal pattern of condensation water. Meanwhile, the main affecting factors of condensation water come into being were analyzed from meteorological factors, the type and situation of condensation surface, as well as plants which around the condensation surface. The ecological roles and significance of condensation water in arid regions were evaluated and the research trends of condensation water in arid regions are prospected in the last part. It is pointed that cross discipline collaboration, such as meteorology, ecology, should be paid more attention in formation mechanisms of condensation water in arid regions in the future, and also measurement method of condensation water should be developed and standardized, as well as physiological responses of desert plants to condensation water and effects of condensation water on extreme drought stress plants should be conducted.