Using the developed climatological calculation scheme for components of ground heatbalance and in the context of data from six heat-balance stations of China,investigation is performed of the heat source distribution features on a national basis along with analysis of the waysthe ground heats the atmosphere and the parameterization of the sources. Evidence suggests thatthe monscon-climate background, latitude,terrain and ground humidity are the major factors determining the surface heat source features On an annual basis, ground latent heating represents the main form in the moist and semi-moist regions and the sensible heating is dominant in thearid area of Nw China.