Potential impacts of northeastern Eurasian snow cover on generation of dust storms in northwestern China during spring

The effects of the northeastern Eurasian snow cover on the frequency of spring dust storms in northwestern China have been examined for the period 1979–2007. Averaged over all 43 stations in northwestern China, a statistically significant relationship has been found between dust-storm frequency (DSF) and Eurasian snow-water equivalent (SWE) during spring: mean DSF of 7.4 and 3.3 days for years of high- and low SWE, respectively. Further analyses reveal that positive SWE anomalies enhance the meridional gradients of the lower tropospheric temperatures and geopotential heights, thereby strengthening westerly jets and zonal wind shear over northwestern China and western Inner Mongolia of China, the regions of major dust sources. The anomalous atmospheric circulation corresponding to the Eurasian SWE anomalies either reinforces or weakens atmospheric baroclinicity and cyclogenesis, according to the sign of the anomaly, to affect the spring DSF. This study suggests that Eurasian SWE anomalies can be an influential factor of spring DSF in northwestern China and western Inner Mongolia of China.     

Potential predictors for spring season dust storm forecast in Inner Mongolia, China

This study identifies potential predictors for seasonal forecast of dust storm frequency for the Inner Mongolia region of China. Regionally averaged antecedent annual precipitation anomaly has a significant influence on spring dust storm frequency. It is strongly linked to the frequency of severe dust storms that produce strong impact on the downstream Beijing-Tianjin area. A hindcast that uses precipitation anomaly to predict dust storm frequency in the following spring significantly outperforms climatologic forecast. Limited soil moisture observations indicate that an abundant annual precipitation increases the soil moisture of subsurface layer in the subsequent spring, which in turn improves vegetation growth that could lead to a reduction in the frequency of dust storms.     

The Influence of Vegetation Cover on Summer Precipitation in China： a Statistical Analysis of NDVI and Climate Data

This study provides new evidence for the feedback effects of vegetation cover on summer precipitation in different regions of China by calculating immediate (same season), and one-and two-season lagged correlations between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and summer precipitation. The results show that the correlation coefficients between NDVI in spring and the previous winter and precipitation in summer are positive in most regions of China, and they show significant difference between regions. The stronger one-and two-season lagged correlations occur in the eastern arid/semi-arid region, Central China,and Southwest China out of the eight climatic regions of China, and this implies that vegetation cover change has more sensitive feedback effects on summer precipitation in the three regions. The three regions are defined as sensitive regions. Spatial analyses of correlations between spring NDVI averaged over each sensitive region and summer precipitation of 160 stations suggest that the vegetation cover strongly affects summer precipitation not only over the sensitive region itself but also over other regions, especially the downstream region.     

春季沙尘天气对内蒙古相关城市颗粒物污染影响研究

沙尘天气是造成我国北方春季区域性沙尘型重污染的主要原因,然而目前对此研究并不多见。因此,本文利用中国环保网2014年1月1日-2016年12月31日内蒙古11个城市环境监测站的颗粒物浓度的逐日和逐时资料,首先分析近3年该地区颗粒物污染浓度的年变化特征,然后对比这3年沙尘天气发生的次数及时段,探究颗粒物污染的年变化特征及其与沙尘天气之关系。统计结果表明,近3年春季内蒙古沙尘天气的发生次数是逐年增加的,中西部是沙尘天气频发区,与之相对应,西部颗粒物浓度的年变化高于东部,且造成内蒙古主要城市PM10浓度春季出现全年的最高值,表明沙尘天气频繁发生对当地粗颗粒物污染有显著的影响。对比内蒙古全年3个时间段的PM10浓度值,其排序是：春季沙尘期间＞春季非沙尘期间＞其他季节;即春季沙尘期间PM10浓度比非沙尘期间高69%,比其他季节高101%。有所不同的是,3个时间段平均PM2.5浓度排序则为：春季沙尘期间＞其他季节＞春季非沙尘期间;春季沙尘期间PM2.5的平均浓度比其他季节高16%,比春季非沙尘期间高29%;可见,春季沙尘天气对相关城市PM10浓度的影响明显大于对PM2.5浓度的影响。最后对内蒙古地区典型沙尘暴和扬沙个例进行细致研究, 发现沙尘暴个例中PM10浓度的增加倍数在2.3~15.1之间,而扬沙过程PM10浓度的增加倍数在0.8~5.6之间,两者相比可看出,沙尘暴过程对颗粒物污染的影响显著大于扬沙过程。     

Weather and Climate Effects of the Tibetan Plateau

Progress in observation experiments and studies concerning the effects of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) on weather and climate during the last 5 years are reviewed. The mesoscale topography over the TP plays an important role in generating and enhancing mesoscale disturbances. These disturbances increase the surface sensible heat (SH) flux over the TP and propagate eastward to enhance convection and precipitation in the valley of Yangtze River. Some new evidence from both observations and numerical simulations shows that the southwesterly flow, which lies on the southeastern flank of the TP, is highly correlated with the SH of the southeastern TP in seasonal and interannual variability. The mechanical and thermal forcing of the TP is an important climatic cause of the spring persistent rains over southeastern China. Moreover, the thermodynamic processes over the TP can influence the atmospheric circulation and climate over North America and Europe by stimulating the large-scale teleconnections such as the Asian-Pacific oscillation and can affect the atmospheric circulation over the southern Indian Ocean. Estimating the trend in the atmospheric heat source over the TP shows that, in contrast to the strong surface and troposphere warming, the SH over the TP has undergone a significant decreasing trend since the mid-1980s. Despite the fact that in situ latent heating presents a weak increasing trend, the springtime atmospheric heat source over the TP is losing its strength. This gives rise to reduced precipitation along the southern and eastern slopes of the TP and to increased rainfall over northeastern India and the Bay of Bengal.     

华北春季沙尘暴频次与环流年际变率的相关分析

分析了近40年来华北春季沙尘暴频次与前秋、前冬和当年春季大尺度大气环流因子的关系,重点是检查年际尺度上的相关。结果表明,年际尺度上与沙尘暴频次有密切关系的环流因子包括:春季太平洋/北美遥相关型(PNA)、春季北太平洋指数(NP)、冬季亚洲区极涡面积。前者为正相关,后二者为负相关。这与用包含低频变率的原始序列进行分析的结果有很大的不同。原始序列分析的结果表明,与华北沙尘暴频次有关的环流因子主要是春季太平洋准10年振荡(PDO,为负相关),春季北半球极涡面积和亚洲区极涡面积(正相关)、前冬西大西洋型(WA,为正相关),以及前秋亚洲区极涡面积(正相关)。说明在不同时间尺度上,大气环流因子有不同的作用。此外,除了PNA、NP和亚洲区极涡面积外,年际尺度上ENSO及WA也可能对沙尘暴频次存在适度的影响。年际尺度上春季12个环流因子对春季沙尘暴频次的方差贡献率为65.3%。     

基于逐时数据的南疆沙尘天气精细化特征研究

利用2006—2019年南疆地区55个国家站的逐日观测和自动站小时数据资料,研究沙尘发生的精细化特征及沙尘暴起沙风速指标阈值。结果表明：南疆沙尘中心位于塔里木盆地中部至其南缘的民丰和且末一线,表现为中部多,东部西部少的分布特点,浮尘和沙尘暴的中心在民丰,而扬沙中心在塔中站;沙尘天气季节差异明显,秋、冬季沙尘最少,以浮尘为主,春、夏季是沙尘天气的高发季节,浮尘日与扬沙日数接近,约为沙尘暴的2倍,沙尘暴、扬沙的季节差异比浮尘天气更为明显;沙尘日变化呈白天多于夜间,下午多于上午的分布特点,18—20时是南疆地区出现沙尘暴、扬沙天气的高频时段;扬沙和沙尘暴的平均持续时间短,一般不超过3 h,巴州东南部平均持续时间最长;南疆不同地区沙尘天气发生的最小风速差异较大,存在区域性规律,而极大风速分布呈东部大于西部,北部大于南部,塔里木盆地中部和南部最小,春季的极大风速平均值大于夏季,差值较小的地区在和田地区,春季的极大风速离散度也较夏季大,各站极大风速的最小值范围在1.6—9.8 m·s^-1之间。     

Responses of Grassland and Forest to Temperature and Precipitation Changes in Northeast China

Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as an indicator of vegetation growth, we explored the characteristics and differences in the response to drought of five vegetation biomes in Northeast China, including typical steppe, desert steppe, meadow steppe, deciduous coniferous forest and deciduous broad-leaved forest during the period 1982-2009. The results indicate that growing season precipitation may be the primary vegetation growth-limiting factor in grasslands. More than 70% of the temporal variations in NDVI can be explained by the amount of precipitation during the growing season in typical and desert steppes. During the same period, the mean temperature in the growing season could explain nearly 43% of the variations in the mean growing season NDVI and is therefore a dominant growth-limiting factor for forest ecosystems. Therefore, the NDVI trends differ largely due to differences in the vegetation growth-limiting factors of the different vegetation biomes. The NDVI responses to droughts vary in magnitude and direction and depend on the drought-affected areas of the five vegetation types. Specifically, the changes in NDVI are consistent with the variations in precipitation for grassland ecosystems. A lack of precipitation resulted in decreases in NDVI, thereby reducing vegetation growth in these regions. Conversely, increasing precipitation decreased the NDVI of forest ecosystems. The results also suggest that grasslands under arid and semi-arid environments may be more sensitive to drought than forests under humid environments. Among grassland ecosystems, desert steppe was most sensitive to drought, followed by typical steppe; meadow steppe was the least sensitive.     

2013年春季沙尘天气特征及其成因

2013年春季,我国共出现了7次沙尘天气过程,其中沙尘暴2次,扬沙5次,是沙尘天气频次总体偏少,但发生时间偏早、影响范围较广的一年。通过对2012/2013年冬季及2013年春季天气气候特征的分析表明：（1）2012/2013年冬季,西伯利亚高压脊较常年平均明显偏弱,影响我国北方地区的西北气流及冷空气偏弱,我国大部地区气温偏高,不利于冬季土壤冻结,土质较为疏松,加之蒙古国及内蒙古大部地区纬向风为偏西风的正距平区,有利于起沙及沙尘粒子向偏东方向输送,这是造成2013年沙尘天气早发的主要原因;（2）2013年春季,我国北方大部地区处于该弱脊脊前西北气流,我国北方除东北地区气温较常年偏低外,其他大部地区气温均偏高,土壤解冻较早,加之3~4月降水偏少,植被状况偏差,土质疏松,是形成沙尘天气的主要原因;（3）气温偏高、降水偏少、土壤湿度降低,但2013年春季沙尘暴反而减少了,说明这些因素并不是沙尘暴发生的直接因素,而是造成沙尘暴发生的短期天气气候变化的间接原因。     

北京沙尘天气的变化特征及其沙尘源地分析

通过对北京市沙尘天气的变化特征、出现沙尘天气的天气形势、移动路径、关键区域和地表特征的分析,以及与降水量的相关分析,研究了北京市沙尘天气的变化趋势及其沙尘源地的基本特征。结果表明,近56年来,北京市浮尘、扬沙和沙尘暴等天气现象均呈现出不规则的波动减少的变化态势;进入北京的冷空气和沙尘主要有偏西、西北和偏北三条移动路径;蒙古气旋加冷锋是北京产生沙尘天气的最主要天气系统;影响北京的沙尘质点主要来源于我国内蒙古以及中蒙边境地区;从地表特征来看,北京市周边地区存在着大片的沙尘来源地。沙尘天气与降水量的相关分析表明,沙尘源区的春季降水对当年北京市三种沙尘天气的影响突出,而本地的降水更多的是仅仅影响当年的沙尘暴天气。要缓解北京市的沙尘天气灾害,除了在北京市及其周边地区植树造林、建立生态屏障外,还要加强对沙尘源地的监测与管理,坚持以草定畜、适度放牧,严防植被破坏,同时要及时预报沙尘天气的影响范围和持续时间,把危害降到最低程度。     

An Observational and Numerical Study on the Topographic Influence on Dust Transport in East Asia

Based on observations and numerical simulations, the topographic impacts on dust transport in East Asia were studied. Two regions frequently attacked by dust storms have been confirmed： one is the western part of Inner Mongolia and the southern Mongolia （namely the Mongolia Plateau）, and the other is the Tarim Basin. The most frequent dust storm occurrence area within the first region appears in its hinterland while that of the second one lies in its southern boundary. Moreover, the region from the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau （TP） to the Loess Plateau is attacked by dust storms second frequently. The dust storms frequently occurring over the Mongolia Plateau axe related not only to the abundant sand and dust sources, but also to the special topographic conditions of East Asia. The most significant factor that influences the dust storms forming in the hinterland of the Mongolia Plateau is the canyon low level jet （CLLJ）, which dominates around the southern areas of the Altay-Sayan Mountains with an east-west direction in the beginning of its formation, and is accompanied by significantly enhanced surface wind afterwards. Due to the obstructive effects of the CLLJ, a lot of dust particles carried by the southward down-slope cold air mass would pile up over the southern slope of the Sayan Mountains. Meanwhile, uneven surface conditions are favorable for the dust particles to go up into the upper atmosphere. With the dust particles piling up continuously, a dust layer is formed in the troposphere and can be recognized as a ＇!dust accumulating container＂, which provides abundant dust particles to be transported later to the downstream areas. Additionally, the topographic features of East Asia also exert a great influence on dust transport. Generally, the easterly CLLJ enhances the easterly dust transport. The down-slope air current over the southern Sayan Mountains and the air flow surrounding the TP near its northeastern edge enhance the southward dust transport. Lastly, weather system influences are also examined. The weathers associated with cold fronts frequently appear over the areas of Mongolia and North China in springtime. The cold front system, in general, carries the sand and dust southwards. Among all topographic influencing elements, the rounding effect of the TP is the strongest. Under the combined influences of the cold front and the rounding effect of topography, most sand and dust particles are transported and then deposited over the Loess Plateau.     

Correlation of Dust Storms in China with Chlorophyll a Concentration in the Yellow Sea between 1997-2007

Based on daily observation data at 222 meteorological stations in China,the characteristics of dust storms between 1997 and 2007 were examined.Next,the relationship between dust events and chlorophyll (Chl) a concentration in the Yellow Sea was investigated.There were six regions with high annual frequencies of dust storms.The seasonal distribution of dust storms showed spatiotemporal variation.The six regions with highest annual frequencies also exhibited high frequencies of dust storms in spring.Dust storms in most regions occurred in spring.Of all dust storms in China,sixty-five percent of all dust storms occurred during the spring.The area and frequency of dust storms were smaller in fall and winter than in spring and summer.A significant correlation was found between dust events and Chl a concentration in the Yellow Sea.High correlation regions included Qinghai-Xizang region,part of the Hexi Corridor,the western Inner Mongolia and Hetao Regions,and the Hunshandake Desert.The high correlation may be induced by the high ratio of dust storms in the abovementioned regions that arrive over the Yellow Sea,as inferred through a forward trajectory analysis;especially notable is dust transported at a lower altitude (< 3 km).     

河套地区春季扬沙天气影响因子的初步研究

通过对河套地区扬沙日数、冷空气活动及固定地段土壤湿度的研究 ,探讨了冷空气活动和土壤湿度对河套地区春季扬沙天气频次的影响。结果表明 ,春季大范围的冷空气活动提供了重要的扰动能量 ;同时 ,强冷空气活动较大的风速 ,为扬沙天气的出现提供了动力条件 ;土壤湿度偏小、土壤干燥疏松也是河套地区扬沙频繁发生的重要原因     

沙漠地区沙尘天气近地层湍流输送特征分析

利用1996－04－20－50－10在内蒙古自治区吉兰泰气象站以及1997－04－05－27在内蒙古自治区阿拉善右旗气象站观测到的风，温，湿廓线资料，应用空气动力学方法，计算了每天各观测时次的流动量通量，湍流感热通量和湍流潜热通量，并且比较分析了荒漠下垫面不同沙尘天气状况下的湍流动量通量，感热通量和潜热通量的日变化。结果表明，在沙漠地区春季无降水天气状况下，晴空条件下，白天热力湍流基于动力湍流，在近地层最重要的物质交换是湍流感热交换，浮尘天气条件下，近地层湍流输送较晴空天气条件下弱；扬沙天气条件下，近地层湍流感热交换和湍流动力量流感热通量的峰值大于交换，并且湍流动量通量的峰值较晴空峰值大将近一个量级，湍流感热通量的峰值大于浮尘天气峰值，但小于晴空条件下峰值，沙尘暴天气条件下，湍流动量通量和感热通量一样都是最重要的湍流交换，湍流交换强于扬沙天气，强的感热对沙漠地局地性沙尘暴的产生和加强起着重要作用。     

我国夏季降水与青藏高原春季NDVI的关系

利用1982年1月-2001年12月NDVI资料、台站降水资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料, 通过相关分析和合成分析方法, 初步分析了我国夏季降水与青藏高原春季植被的关系及可能机理。结果发现:青藏高原春季NDVI与我国夏季降水相关系数从南到北呈西北-东南向“ + - +”带状分布。合成分析也表明:青藏高原春季NDVI大、小值年降水年内分布也存在明显差异。降水的上述差异, 可能是由于青藏高原春季NDVI变化导致热源效应改变, 引起大气环流变化造成的。对环流分析也发现:大气环流的变化特征与降水变化表现出很好的一致性。     

德州一次沙尘天气过程成因及气溶胶粒子的输送路径分析

利用NCEP 1°×1°再分析资料分析了2017年5月4日浮尘和5月5日扬沙天气的成因。结果表明：3日20时—4日08时,蒙古气旋在有利的环流背景下迅速发展,配合冷锋在内蒙古中部和东部形成大范围的强沙尘天气;4日20时—5日08时沙尘通过高空气流输送到华北地区,在自身沉降和较强下沉气流的共同作用下,迅速沉降形成华北地区大范围的浮尘天气;5日08—14时由于西北路冷空气影响,横槽转竖,冷锋加速南下,将大量沙源地的沙尘输送到德州造成扬沙天气。通过HYSPLIT模式对本次过程中气团后向轨迹的模拟,证实以上两个阶段沙尘天气过程中的输送方式及路径。通过分析影响系统、物理量和气象要素发现,蒙古国、我国内蒙古中部沙源地天气系统强度、位置的变化直接影响沙尘天气的类型,高层气流变化与沙尘天气的类型有很好的对应关系。     

北京春季一次持续浮尘和污染天气过程分析

2001年4月底5月初北京地区出现了一次以浮尘天气为主，夹杂轻雾、雷阵雨、烟幕等复杂天气过程的持续重污染事件，给北京地区的生产和生活带来了较大的影响。文章主要从天气形势上分析了北京浮尘天气形成的原因和持续空气污染的气象条件。结果表明，此次过程是由于高空冷涡发展东移，蒙古气旋发展和地面冷锋移动经过蒙古国南部和华北北部等干燥、疏松的地表形成扬沙、沙尘暴，大量的细小沙尘粒子随高空偏西气流携带而至北京，形成浮尘天气。本地低空处于弱辐合区，层结稳定，风速小、逆温频繁，这些均不利于沙尘粒子和本地污染物的扩散，导致连续可吸入颗粒物重污染的形成。     

Possible association of the western Tibetan Plateau snow cover with the decadal to interdecadal variations of northern China heatwave frequency

Northern China has been subject to increased heatwave frequency (HWF) in recent decades, which deteriorates the local droughts and desertification. More than half a billion people face drinking water shortages and worsening ecological environment. In this study, the variability in the western Tibetan Plateau snow cover (TPSC) is observed to have an intimate linkage with the first empirical orthogonal function mode of the summer HWF across China. This distinct leading mode is dominated by the decadal to inter-decadal variability and features a mono-sign pattern with the extreme value center prevailing over northern China and high pressure anomalies at mid- and upper troposphere over Mongolia and the adjacent regions. A simplified general circulation model is utilized to examine the possible physical mechanism. A reduced TPSC anomaly can induce a positive geopotential height anomaly at the mid- and upper troposphere and subsequently enhance the climatological high pressure ridge over Mongolia and the adjacent regions. The subsidence associated with the high pressure anomalies tends to suppress the local cloud formation, which increases the net radiation budget, heats the surface, and favors more heatwaves. On the other hand, the surface heating can excite high pressure anomalies at mid- and upper troposphere. The latter further strengthens the upper troposphere high pressure anomalies over Mongolia and the adjacent regions. Through such positive feedback effect, the TPSC is tied to the interdecadal variations of the northern China HWF.     

1981—2013年四川省视程障碍类天气现象分析

利用四川省1981—2013年雾、轻雾、吹雪、雪暴、烟幕、霾、沙尘暴、扬沙和浮尘9种视程障碍天气现象资料,对其发生日数、发生概率和分布特征进行统计。结果表明:(1)各天气现象发生日数排序为:轻雾>雾>浮尘>霾>烟幕>扬沙>沙尘暴>吹雪>雪暴。(2)轻雾和雾年发生日数为分别为176d/a和29d/a,日发生概率分别为48%和8%,远高出其他天气现象。(3)季节变化方面,雾和轻雾主要出现在秋季和冬季;霾、吹雪和雪暴集中出现在冬季;浮尘发生春季;扬沙多发生在冬季和春季;而沙尘暴、烟幕主要发生在春季和秋季。(4)变化趋势上轻雾基本保持平稳;烟幕呈增加趋势;而雾、霾、沙尘暴、扬沙和浮尘呈下降趋势。(5)大气层结稳定、水汽充足、风速较小、人口集中和排放量较大,易于盆地雾、轻雾、霾和烟幕的形成;不合理利用水和土地资源,北方地区沙尘天气随冷空气南下,是沙尘天气发生的重要原因;而吹雪和雪暴均发生在冬季降雪量大且风速较大的川西高原。     

沙尘传输路径上气溶胶浓度与干沉降通量的粒径分布特征

利用2002年春季中国北京、青岛和日本福冈3个地区的分级气溶胶浓度资料,结合改进的Wil-liams模型,分析了沙尘传输路径上空气动力学直径≤11μm气溶胶(PM11)浓度和干沉降通量的粒径分布特征,并估算了黄海海域春季PM11的干沉降通量及不同粒径气溶胶的贡献。结果表明:3个地区PM11浓度粒径分布在非沙尘时期呈双峰分布,两个峰值分别出现在细颗粒(<2.1μm)部分和粗颗粒(2.1～11μm)部分;沙尘时期,3个地区PM11浓度粒径分布均趋于单峰分布,峰值位于粗颗粒部分,并且越靠近沙尘源地,这种趋势越明显。较强沙尘天气时期,粗颗粒部分的浓度峰值粒径从沙尘源地附近到黄海西岸、东岸呈降低趋势,但在一般沙尘天气时期,这种现象并不明显。沙尘时期和非沙尘时期,3个地区粗颗粒的干沉降通量均随粒径增加而增大,细颗粒的干沉降通量随粒径的变化不明显。虽然沙尘时期粗颗粒沉降通量较非沙尘时期有明显增加,但粗颗粒对PM11干沉降通量的贡献与非沙尘时期相比,并没有明显的变化。较强沙尘天气时期,3个地区粗颗粒的干沉降通量明显高于一般沙尘天气时期;细颗粒的干沉降通量较一般沙尘天气时期略有增加。黄海海域春季沙尘时期PM11的干沉降通量约为31.70～58.59mg.m-2.d-1,非沙尘时期约为8.33～15.94mg.m-2.d-1。粗颗粒是黄海海域春季PM11干沉降通量的主要贡献者,约占PM11干沉降通量的94.2%以上。