Journal article
Characterization of dust activation and their prevailing transport over East Asia based on multi-satellite observations
Atmospheric research, Vol.265, p.105886
01/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105886
Abstract
Mineral dust from the deserts and arid areas in East Asia plays a critical role in regional climate and air quality. Based on integrated satellite observations and MERRA-2 reanalysis, we provide an observational insight into dust activities governing spatial patterns of dust aerosols over East Asia. With Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Ozone Monitoring Ultraviolet Aerosol Index (UVAI), fixed dust-active areas with distinct spatial-temporal differences are revealed. Besides the few dust storms mostly in spring, unnoticeable but frequent dust plumes are found to be the predominant sources of prevailing dust particles over East Asia. Compared with the active dust sources in Taklimakan Desert throughout the year, dust activities in Gobi deserts are at a much lower frequency. The elevated dust plumes are concentrated within 2–6 km over the deserts with large seasonal variations, and can be transported downstream to eastern China and Sichuan Basin within 3–5 days. Moreover, owing to the lack of enough strong winds, these dust plumes tend to be concentrated above the haze layers near surface in eastern China. The intense temperature inversion during winter and early spring can delay the mixing of dust-pollution. Despite a generally reasonable performance in dust AOD, MERRA-2 reanalysis exhibits some uncertainties in reproducing spatial locations of dust hotspots, dust concentration, and transport process. Our results emphasize significant role of the inapparent but prevalent dust plumes in air quality and in climate effects of East Asia.
•Inapparent but frequent dust plumes are the predominant sources of prevalent dust aerosols over East Asia.•Dust plumes tend to overlay over anthropogenic pollution near surface with a delaying dust-pollution mixing.•MERRA-2 underestimates the dust loading in Taklimakan Desert and overestimates in Gobi deserts.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Characterization of dust activation and their prevailing transport over East Asia based on multi-satellite observations
- Creators
- Minghui Tao - China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)Liangfu Chen - Chinese Academy of SciencesJun Wang - University of IowaLili Wang - Chinese Academy of SciencesWencai Wang - Ocean University of ChinaChangqing Lin - Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyLu Gui - China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)Lunche Wang - China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)Chao Yu - Chinese Academy of SciencesYi Wang - China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Atmospheric research, Vol.265, p.105886
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105886
- ISSN
- 0169-8095
- eISSN
- 1873-2895
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100008893, name: University of Iowa; DOI: 10.13039/501100001809, name: National Natural Science Foundation of China, award: 41830109, 41871262
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Iowa Technology Institute; Physics and Astronomy; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984186941602771
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