Biological response to coastal upwelling and dust deposition in the area off Northwest Africa

Nutrient supply in the area off Northwest Africa is mainly regulated by two processes, coastal upwelling and deposition of Saharan dust. In the present study, both processes were analyzed and evaluated by different methods, including cross-correlation, multiple correlation, and event statistics, using remotely sensed proxies of the period from 2000 to 2008 to investigate their influence on the marine environment. The remotely sensed chlorophyll-a concentration was used as a proxy for the phytoplankton biomass stimulated by nutrient supply into the euphotic zone from deeper water layers and from the atmosphere. Satellite-derived alongshore wind stress and sea-surface temperature were applied as proxies for the strength and reflection of coastal upwelling processes. The westward wind and the dust component of the aerosol optical depth describe the transport direction of atmospheric dust and the atmospheric dust column load.     

柴达木盆地苏干湖表层沉积与尘暴事件——元素示踪的初步结果

通过分析苏干湖地区10个地表表层沉积物、9个大气降尘(含2个尘暴降尘)、16个湖泊表层沉积物等样品的8种常量-微量元素和11种稀土元素的含量,以及同类沉积不同元素含量和不同沉积同一元素含量的相关性,结果表明,在湖泊沉积体系中Al、Fe、Sc含量的变化与强风-尘暴过程有关,指示了湖泊沉积碎屑颗粒风成输入的可能性．元素Fe、Sc含量在3种不同的沉积物中差异不大,与尘暴事件的强度和频次有关．稀土元素结果显示3类沉积具有同源性．苏干湖沉积可以用来重建研究区尘暴演化历史．     

The aeolian dust accumulation curve

This article presents a simple physical concept of aeolian dust accumulation, based on the behaviour of the subprocesses of dust deposition and dust erosion. The concept is tested in an aeolian dust wind tunnel. The agreement between the accumulation curve predicted by the model and the accumulation curve obtained in the experiments is close to perfect and shows that it is necessary to discriminate between the processes of aeolian dust deposition and aeolian dust accumulation. Two important thresholds determine the accumulation process. For wind speeds below the deflation threshold, the aeolian accumulation of dust increases linearly with the wind speed. For wind velocities between the deflation threshold and the accumulation limit, the sedimentation balance is above unity and there is still accumulation, though it rapidly drops once the deflation threshold has been exceeded. At wind speeds beyond the accumulation limit, the sedimentation balance is below unity and there will no longer be an accumulation of dust. The thresholds have been determined in a wind tunnel test at friction velocity u_* = 0·34 m s^?1 (deflation threshold) and u_* = 0·43 m s^?1 (accumulation limit), but these values are only indicative since they depend heavily on the characteristics of the accumulation surface and of the airborne grains. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dynamic effects of sediment availability on the relationship between wind speed and dust concentration

Where sediment supply is unlimited, previous research suggests that a strong, positive relationship between wind speed and dust concentration exists at the event scale. This relationship can break down if sediment availability is limited or changes during an event. This paper explores the dynamic effects of sediment availability on the relationship between wind speed and dust concentration using data from nine high‐latitude dust events recorded in Iceland. Of these events, six showed a strong positive relationship between wind speed and dust concentration. For the remainder, the relationship breaks down periodically during the event due to changing surface moisture conditions and atmospheric humidity. Results suggest a need to understand how spatial and temporal changes in humidity, surface soil moisture, soil texture and threshold velocity interact and control sediment availability for dust emissions in all environments, including at high latitudes. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DInSAR沙漠形变监测应用研究(英文)

浑善达克沙地是我国主要的沙尘暴源区之一,近代浑善达克沙地的生态环境脆弱,沙化日益严重,已成为困扰北京沙尘的主要源头之一,严重影响了京津、乃至整个华北地区的生态安全以及当地生态、社会和经济的可持续发展,这一问题引起广泛的关注。DInSAR技术是重要的监测沙漠高程变化的技术,本文利用DInSAR技术,在对比分析6景ERS-2和EnviSat雷达图像基础上,对2004年10月26日和2005年10月11日两幅EnviSatASAR影像进行了干涉处理,经过配准、平地效应改正、滤波、相位解缠和地理编码,得到高程形变模型。根据研究结果,大部分地区高程是降低的,少数地区高程是升高的,这与2005年春天沙尘暴高强度发生的情况相一致,推广利用DInSAR技术实现沙漠地表形变监测具有重要作用。     

Contemporary glacigenic inputs to the dust cycle

The importance of glacigenic dust in the Earth's system during glacial periods is widely acknowledged. Under contemporary conditions, the world's largest dust sources are in low‐lying, hot, arid regions and this is where most aeolian research is focused. However the processes of dust production and emissions are still operating in cold climate regions, particularly in proglacial areas. This paper assesses current understanding of the relationship between glacierised landscapes and dust emissions and inputs to the global dust cycle. It focuses on how elements in the glacial and aeolian geomorphic sub‐systems interact to determine the magnitude, frequency and timing of aeolian dust emissions, and on feedback mechanisms between the systems. Where they have been measured, dust emission intensity and deposition rates in glacierised catchments are very high, in some cases far exceeding those in lower latitudes, however, few studies span long time scales. The impact of future glacier retreat on the balance between sediment supply, availability and aeolian transport capacity and implications for glacigenic dust emissions is also considered. This balance depends on relative spatial and temporal changes in meltwater suspended sediment concentration and wind strengths, which promote dust emissions, and patterns and rates of soil development and vegetation succession on recently‐deglaciated terrain which protect sediments from deflation. Retreat of the Antarctic ice sheet could mean that in future glacigenic contributions to the dust cycle exceed those of non‐glacigenic sources in the southern hemisphere. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identifying regional dust transport pathways: ­application of kinematic trajectory modelling to a trans‐Tasman case

A kinematic trajectory model is used to investigate potential pathways of dust transport from Australia to New Zealand. Historically, these have been assumed to follow rather direct west–east trajectories spanning 2 to 3 days, often resulting in red snow events in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. However, results from the present study which examined the route taken by air parcels originating in southern Australia during dust storms on 24 and 25 May 1994, indicate that trans‐Tasman dust transport trajectories are more diverse than previously thought, and display considerable variation during single events. These more divergent pathways tie in more closely with aeolian dust sedimentation patterns identified by ocean coring in the Tasman Sea, and may account for the deposition of Australian dust on sub‐Antarctic islands located well south of the Australian continent. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of rock fragment embedding on the aeolian deposition of dust on stone‐covered surfaces

Many stone‐covered surfaces on Earth are subject to aeolian deposition of atmospheric dust. This study investigates how the deposition of dust is affected when rock fragments become gradually more embedded in the ground or, inversely, become more concentrated on the surface. Experiments were executed in an aeolian dust wind tunnel with eight different types of pebbles. The following parameters were measured: dust deposition on the pebbles, dust deposition between and underneath pebbles, total dust deposition (pebbles + inter‐pebble space), and the fraction, of total deposition, of dust caught by the pebbles alone. The absolute amount of dust deposition and the dust deposition density (dust deposition per unit surface) were studied for each parameter. The effects exerted by pebble size, pebble flattening, pebble elongation and wind speed were also investigated. Dust patterns on and around pebbles were also studied via flow visualization. The absolute amount of dust settling on pebbles decreases the more that the pebbles become embedded. Dust deposition density on pebbles, on the other hand, increases with embedding. The more pebbles become embedded in the soil, the more efficient the process of dust deposition on pebbles becomes. Dust deposition between and underneath pebbles increases with pebble embedding. Dust deposition density between and underneath pebbles is maximum at 50 per cent embedding, showing that in this area dust deposition is most efficient when pebbles are halfway embedded. Total deposition slightly decreases the more pebbles become embedded, but total dust deposition density increases with embedding. Aerodynamic flow separation and diverging and converging airflow play an important role in the process of dust deposition on stone‐covered surfaces. The more pebbles protrude above the soil, the more they act as an obstacle and the more they disturb the air and dust flow creating scouring zones, flow separation bubbles and shelter areas for the dust. All these effects diminish as pebbles become more embedded in the soil. However, perturbations in dust patterns remain visible until pebbles have disappeared entirely. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中蒙地区沙尘暴研究的若干进展

本文首先回顾了近20多年来我国沙尘暴研究的3个主要阶段,然后从沙尘观测、沙尘暴气候学、沙尘暴爆发和沙尘传输的环流型、沙尘暴活动的年代际变化和原因、以及待深入研究的问题等5方面简要评述了它的研究进展和问题. 指出中蒙沙尘主要来源于中国西北及蒙古国南部和西北部地区;随沙尘天气强度逐渐加强（即从背景大气到浮尘、扬沙、沙尘暴、强及特强沙尘暴）,它们的地面沙尘浓度约按3倍的比率依次递增;揭示了我国北方及蒙古国南部的七大沙尘暴多发区,沙尘暴主要出现在春季午后至傍晚间丰富的沙源,强风和不稳定的大气层结是形成沙尘暴的3个主要因子;中蒙地区沙尘暴爆发的环流主要有低压冷锋型和低压、冷锋加中尺度系统的强对流型两类,前者占绝大多数,后者是极少数,但为沙尘暴爆发短期预报的难点,沙尘的传输主要决定于低空环流型;近50年来中蒙地区的沙尘暴活动呈波动变化,而且中蒙中、东及西区三区系的变化不完全相同. 它们与北方风沙区生态环境恶化,特别是蒙古及日本海附近气旋频数的年代际变化有关;防御沙尘暴重点要抓上述七大多发区生态环境的治理及沙尘暴预警系统的建立,治理措施要因地制宜;要加强沙尘暴爆发和沙尘输送的数值预报和模拟研究.     

Aeolian deposition of dust over hills: the effect of dust grain size on the deposition pattern

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of topography on the grain size characteristics of aeolian dust deposits. Experiments were performed on three isolated hills having various size and aspect ratios. The longitudinal profile of the median grain diameter was investigated for each hill. The longitudinal dust deposition profile was also studied for nine grain size classes of between 10 and 104 µm, as were wind and dust concentration profiles in the atmosphere upwind of, over and downwind of a hill. The wind tunnel experiments show that the grain size characteristics of aeolian dust deposits are affected by topography. Most apparent is the occurrence of a zone of reduced grain size on the leeside of hills, which extends from just upwind of the summit to a distance of several times the height of the hill. Slightly coarser than normal dust is deposited on the concave windward hill slope and in a zone downwind of the area of reduced grain size, but the increase in grain size in these zones remains very small. Although the normalized dust deposition profile for a hill does not vary substantially as a function of grain size, systematic trends are observed. The most important tendencies are: (1) a progressive extension, in the downwind direction, of a zone of decreased dust deposition on the leeside of a hill (the coarser the grains, the further downwind the zone of reduced deposition extends); (2) a progressive increase in dust deposition immediately upwind of a hill (the finer the grains, the higher the deposition value upwind of a hill becomes). Both tendencies are explained by the difference in inertia of the grains, which is controlled by grain size. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dry aeolian dust accumulation in rocky deserts: ­a medium‐term field experiment based on short‐term wind tunnel simulations

The spatial pattern of medium‐term (a few months) dry aeolian dust accumulation in rocky deserts is predicted using short‐term deposition and erosion experiments in a wind tunnel. The predictions are tested in a field experiment set up in the northern Negev Desert of Israel. The results show that superimposing wind tunnel deposition and erosion maps usually leads to correct predictions of medium‐term dust accumulation. The predictions are somewhat less confident near the inflection lines of windward hillslopes, where small‐scale irregularities in the local topography make it difficult to locate the exact position of the areas of little accumulation. Elsewhere in the topography predictions are good, and the method works satisfactorily. Highest accumulation occurs on concave windward slopes and, to a lesser extent, on slopes parallel to the wind. Little accumulation occurs on the convex windward slopes and in dust separation bubbles. The smallest accumulation rates are observed immediately upwind of the top of pronounced hills and on leeslopes. The rate of dry dust accumulation measured during the field experiment varied from 17 to 93 g m⁻² a⁻¹, depending on the topographic position of the accumulation plots. For most plots, it was of the order of 30–60 g m⁻² a⁻¹. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Holocene fluvial valley fill sources of atmospheric mineral dust in the Skeleton Coast,Namibia

Western Namibia is a significant global source of atmospheric mineral dust. We investigate the relationship between dust and source sediments, assessing the sustainability of dust flux. Remote sensing studies have highlighted specific ephemeral fluvial systems as important contributors to dust flux, including highlighting sections of valleys that are the origins of dust plumes in the period 2005–2008. Little is known however about the specific within‐valley dust sediment sources, particularly whether dust is derived from modern ephemeral channel floors or older valley fill sediments, many of which have been reported in the region. As part of a region‐wide analysis of aeolian dust flux, we investigate the sediment properties of atmospheric dust samples and valley sediments from the Huab valley, one of the principal regional dust sources. Trapped dust samples contain up to 88% very fine sand and silt when collected samples are disaggregated prior to analysis. Valley fill surface samples comprise 80% very fine sand and silt, and the surface of the modern ephemeral channel 30%. Valley fill sediments were sampled at depths up to 3.6 m below the present surface and reveal Holocene depositional ages from 0.6 ± 0.03 ka back to 9.79 ± 0.73 ka. These sediments contain 30% to 6% very fine sand and silt, with levels decreasing with depth and age. Aeolian bedforms in the valley system (nebkhas on the fill surface and climbing dunes on valley margins) indicate that aeolian processes under the influence of strong seasonal easterly winds likely result in dust being winnowed out of the valley fill surfaces, with sandy bedforms being constructed from the coarser component of the fill sediments. The volume of valley fill sediment suggests dust sourced from Holocene sediments is likely to continue into the future regardless of flow conditions in the modern channel system. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction model for spring dust weather frequency in North China

It is of great social and scientific importance and also very difficult to make reliable prediction for dust weather frequency (DWF) in North China. In this paper, the correlation between spring DWF in Beijing and Tianjin observation stations, taken as examples in North China, and seasonally averaged surface air temperature, precipitation, Arctic Oscillation, Antarctic Oscillation, South Oscillation, near surface meridional wind and Eurasian westerly index is respectively calculated so as to construct a prediction model for spring DWF in North China by using these climatic factors. Two prediction models, i.e. model-I and model-II, are then set up respectively based on observed climate data and the 32-year (1970 -2001) extra-seasonal hindcast experiment data as reproduced by the nine-level Atmospheric General Circulation Model developed at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP9L-AGCM). It is indicated that the correlation coefficient between the observed and predicted DWF reaches 0.933 in the model-I, suggesting a high prediction skill one season ahead. The corresponding value is high up to 0.948 for the subsequent model-II, which involves synchronous spring climate data reproduced by the IAP9L-AGCM relative to the model-I. The model-II can not only make more precise prediction but also can bring forward the lead time of real-time prediction from the model-I’s one season to half year. At last, the real-time predictability of the two models is evaluated. It follows that both the models display high prediction skill for both the interannual variation and linear trend of spring DWF in North China, and each is also featured by different advantages. As for the model-II, the prediction skill is much higher than that of original approach by use of the IAP9L-AGCM alone. Therefore, the prediction idea put forward here should be popularized in other regions in China where dust weather occurs frequently.     

北京市朝阳区大气降尘磁学特征及对空气污染物浓度的指示

应用环境磁学方法研究了2008年奥运会前后北京市朝阳区大气降尘及对照点表土样品的磁学特征.结果表明,所有样品中载磁矿物主要为低矫顽力的亚铁磁性矿物(主要为磁铁矿).但大气降尘样品的磁性颗粒粒度较表土偏粗;磁性矿物含量高于表土样品,大气降尘除来自于自然源外,更多为来自于人为因素的结果.大气降尘磁化率与空气污染物浓度随时间...     

Simulations of spatial variability in particle‐size emissions during wind erosion events

This study simulates how spatial variations in particle‐size emissions from a playa affect bulk and size‐resolved dust concentration profiles during two contrasting wind erosion events (a small local and a large regional event) in the Channel Country, Lake Eyre Basin, Australia. The regional event had higher dust concentration as a result of stronger frontal winds and higher erodibility across the playa. For each event, two emission scenarios are simulated to determine if measured size‐resolved dust concentration profiles can be explained by spatial variability in source area emissions. The first scenario assumes that particle‐size emissions from source areas occur at a uniform rate, while the second scenario assumes that particle‐size emissions vary between and within source areas. The uniform emission scenario, reproduced measured bulk dust concentration profiles (R² = 0·93 regional and R² = 0·81 local), however simulated size‐resolved dust concentration profiles had poor statistical fits to measured size‐resolved profiles for each size class (the highest were R² = 0·5 regional and R² = 0·3 local). For the differential particle‐size emission scenario, the fit to the measured bulk dust concentration profiles is improved (R² = 0·97 regional and R² = 0·83 local). However, the fit to the size‐resolved profiles improved dramatically, with the lowest being R² = 0·89 (regional) and R² = 0·80 (local). Particle‐size emission models should therefore be tested against both bulk and size‐resolved dust concentration profiles, since if only bulk dust concentration profiles are used model performance may be over‐stated. As the source areas in the first 90 m upwind of the tower were similar for both events, the percentage contributions of each particle‐size class to total emissions can be compared. The contribution of each particle‐size class was similar even though the wind speed, turbulence and dust concentrations were significantly different; suggesting that the contribution of each particle‐size to the total emitted dusts is not related to wind speed and turbulence. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis on the decadal scale variation of the dust storm in North China

Dust storm is a disastrous weather that can cause serious environmental consequences and hazards. It causes excessive soil mass and nutrient loss in source areas, and air pollution in deposition area, which result in bad influence on agriculture, industry, traffic, and peoples’ daily life[1-4]. Dust storm can also affect the thermal balance of planetary radiation and then lead to meso- to macroscale climatic modification[5-7]. North- west China and North China are two high-frequency centers …     

北京沙尘频次的年际变化及其全球环流背景分析

本文采用相关和合成的分析方法,研究北京沙尘频次的年际变化及其冬、春季的全球环流背景.结果表明北京沙尘频次有年际变化的特点,并与全球范围内的环流异常相联系,特别是南、北半球的中高纬的环流异常.南半球环流异常与沙尘的联系在冬、春两季有很好的持续性和显著性,北半球中高纬环流异常与沙尘的联系冬季较春季显著.春季对流层高层的东亚西风急流增强能使低空的蒙古气旋加强和锋生,从而引起地面大风,为沙尘天气频次的增加提供动力条件.     

Trapping of airborne dust by mosses in the Negev Desert,Israel

Airborne silt and clay containing calcium carbonate, quartz, clays, marine nannoplankton, and aquatic diatoms are trapped among stems of mosses in the Negev Highlands Desert. The mosses were studied in an area with 70 mm mean annual rainfall. They grow over the particles covering them and trap additional dust as it comes, resulting in the accumulation of loess sediments. The mosses protect the accumulated soil from erosion by wind or water. Remnants of the moss leaves and stems were found at a depth of 15 mm and more. No particles or minerals typical to basalt were found in the moss-trapped soil. The function of cushiony mosses may be used to explain the processes of loess trapping and protection in larger areas in moister areas such as the Northern Negev. Microscopic fossils in the dust may be used as guides to the origin of the (aeolian) sediments.     

Dust climatology of Mildura,Victoria, Australia: transport direction

Large-scale geomorphic drivers that operate at continental scale are often climate driven. Changes in land use can accelerate wind erosion. The range of land management practises within one land use can have dramatic effect on ground cover and wind erosion. This study uses meteorological observations, land use, land management and dust concentration measurements of 129 dust events recorded between 1990 and 2007 to describe a dust chronology of Mildura, in south-eastern Australia. Frontal and frontal trough weather systems account for 74% of dust events. Furthermore, 88% of dust events come from rangelands in the northwest and the cropping lands to the southwest. The cropping areas to the southwest are the most common source of dust, accounting for 66% of events There is no relationship between rainfall and dust activity in this study, suggesting that land-management practices, especially on cropping lands, over-ride the controlling effect of rainfall. When cropping lands received above average rainfall in spring and summer during the 1990s, cultivation for weed control lead to rapid decline in ground cover that predisposed the land to wind erosion in following summer and autumn. In drought years, dust blows into Mildura from all directions suggesting that dust is climate driven rather than controlled by land use. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.