Journal article
Arctic amplification-induced decline in West and South Asia dust warrants stronger antidesertification toward carbon neutrality
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.121(14), e2317444121
04/02/2024
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317444121
PMCID: PMC10998603
PMID: 38527208
Abstract
Dust loading in West and South Asia has been a major environmental issue due to its negative effects on air quality, food security, energy supply and public health, as well as on regional and global weather and climate. Yet a robust understanding of its recent changes and future projection remains unclear. On the basis of several high-quality remote sensing products, we detect a consistently decreasing trend of dust loading in West and South Asia over the last two decades. In contrast to previous studies emphasizing the role of local land use changes, here, we attribute the regional dust decline to the continuous intensification of Arctic amplification driven by anthropogenic global warming. Arctic amplification results in anomalous mid-latitude atmospheric circulation, particularly a deepened trough stretching from West Siberia to Northeast India, which inhibits both dust emissions and their downstream transports. Large ensemble climate model simulations further support the dominant role of greenhouse gases induced Arctic amplification in modulating dust loading over West and South Asia. Future projections under different emission scenarios imply potential adverse effects of carbon neutrality in leading to higher regional dust loading and thus highlight the importance of stronger anti-desertification counter-actions such as reforestation and irrigation management.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Arctic amplification-induced decline in West and South Asia dust warrants stronger antidesertification toward carbon neutrality
- Creators
- Fan Wang - Harvard UniversityYangyang Xu - Texas A&M UniversityPiyushkumar N Patel - Oak Ridge Associated UniversitiesRitesh Gautam - Environmental Defense FundMeng Gao - Harvard UniversityCheng Liu - Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine MechanicsYihui Ding - China Meteorological AdministrationHaishan Chen - Nanjing University of Information Science and TechnologyYuanjian Yang - Nanjing University of Information Science and TechnologyYuyu Zhou - University of Hong KongGregory R Carmichael - Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242Michael B McElroy - Harvard University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.121(14), e2317444121
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.2317444121
- PMID
- 38527208
- PMCID
- PMC10998603
- NLM abbreviation
- Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
- eISSN
- 1091-6490
- Grant note
- HKBU12202021 / Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee () 2022YFC3700103 / MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs) 42005084 / MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) HKBU22201820 / Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee ()
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/02/2024
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Nursing; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984577033902771
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