Atmospheric corrosion of aluminium alloy 2024-T3 exposed to salt lake environment in Western China

► A high-rate and linear relationship increase in mass loss in the first 2 years. ► [Mg1-xAlx(OH)2]x+Clx-·mH2O was observed in the corrosion products. ► Stress corrosion cracks were observed in all test periods without loaded stress. ► Unexpected longer time of wetness in the arid climate was discussed. ► Magnesium ions played an important role in the corrosion process in two aspects.