The Northern Path of Asian Dust Transport from the Gobi Desert to North America

The aerosol index (AI) of the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) satellite data (1979 2001) was analyzed to reveal the climatological long-distance path of dust transport from Asia to North America. The AI in the west coast of the United States is highly correlated with that in the Gobi desert. Additionally, from the TOMS satellite images, it can be seen that very strong plumes advect from Asia to the west coast of North America in typical dust storm cases. When applying the sourcereceptor relationship to detect the northern dust transport path between the Gobi source region and the west coast of the United States receptor region, it is evident that the dust plume can be transported northward beyond 60°N from its source region and that it takes 5 to 6 days to reach the west coast of the United States. The cross correlation technique shown in this work is a useful tool that can be applied in other regions to give useful insights into relationships between major dust sources and downwind receptor locations by using remotely sensed dust observations.     

Impact of Long-range Desert Dust Transport on Hydrometeor Formation over Coastal East Asia

Model simulations and hydrological reanalysis data for 2007 are applied to investigate the impact of long-range desert dust transport on hydrometeor formation over coastal East Asia.Results are analyzed from Hong Kong and Shanghai,which are two representative coastal cities of East Asia.Long-range desert dust transport impacts mainly spring and summer clouds and precipitation over coastal East Asia.In spring,clouds and precipitation come mainly from large-scale condensation and are impacted mainly by dust from the Gobi,Sahara,and Thar deserts.These desert dusts can participate in the precipitation within and below the clouds.At lower latitudes,the dust particles act mainly as water nuclei.At higher latitudes,they act as both water nuclei and ice nuclei.The effect of Gobi,Sahara,and Thar dust on large-scale clouds and precipitation becomes stronger at higher latitudes.In summer,clouds and precipitation over coastal East Asia come mainly from convection and are impacted mainly by dust from the Taklamakan,Arabian,and Karakum-Kavir deserts.Most Taklamakan dust particles can participate in precipitation within convective clouds as ice nuclei,while Arabian and Karakum-Kavir dust particles participate only as water nuclei in precipitation below the clouds.The effect of Taklamakan dust on convective clouds and precipitation becomes stronger at lower latitudes.Of all the desert dusts,that from the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts has the relatively largest impact.Gobi dust impacts climate change in coastal East Asia by affecting spring water clouds at higher latitudes.     

Estimation of the Threshold Friction Velocities over Various Dust Storm Source Areas in Northwest China

The emission of dust particles into the atmosphere is governed by the aerodynamic and resistant factors,which are quantified by the friction velocity u＊ and the threshold friction velocity u＊t, respectively. The threshold friction velocity u＊t influences the vertical dust flux and dust transport. Based on the micrometeorological data obtained in the springs of 2004 and 2006 over Hunshandake desert area, Loess Plateau,and Gobi desert area, the relationship between dust concentration and friction velocity for the dust events that occurred over Hunshandake desert area was investigated, and the threshold friction velocities over the three different dust source areas were estimated. The results show that the value of dust concentration is low during the preemission stage of a dust storm event, and the rapid increase of friction velocity provides favorable dynamic conditions for dust emission. During the dust emission stage, the dust concentration increases sharply due to mechanical and thermal turbulent mixing. At the calm-down stage, the dust concentration drops nearly linearly with the decreasing friction velocity, on account of the gravitational deposition of larger dust particles. When the dust concentration is higher than 200 μg m-3, it is considered as a dust emission process. According to the criteria, the values of threshold friction velocity over Hunshandake desert area and Gobi region are 0.6 and 0.45 m s-1, respectively. The threshold friction velocity over Loess Plateau depends on the wind direction, due to the complex terrain and inhomogeneous surface. The northwest wind shows the effects of the Mu Us desert in the northwest. The corresponding u＊t is 0.35 m s-1. The south wind exhibits the characteristics of the Loess hilly dunes in the south, and the u＊t is 0.7 m s-1.The large roughness length of the Loess hilly dunes and the large inter-particle cohesion for the clay soil texture increases the local friction velocity. Different threshold friction velocities and occurrence frequencies of strong wind account for different dust emission capabilities for various source areas.     

应用OMI卫星资料监测蒙古戈壁沙尘的传播

利用2005—2007年OMI(Ozone Monitoring Instrument)卫星的气溶胶指数AI(Aerosol In-dex),分析了沙尘传播的特征。结果表明,蒙古戈壁与北美西海岸地区(40°-50°N,120°-130°W)的AI指数之间有较高的相关性,两地具有源区和被影响区的关系。通过计算沙尘传播时间的滞后相关系数,得到从蒙古戈壁到美国西海岸的沙尘传播时间约为6～7天,且通过了99%信度。利用滞后相关系数,获取了沙尘传播信号,并对沙尘的远距离传播进行了预报。     

中国黑戈壁地区气候变化特征

利用1959-2011年黑戈壁地区12个气象站的年平均气温、年降水量、年平均地面风速、年大风日数和年沙尘暴日数,采用气候趋势法分析了黑戈壁地区气候变化基本特征,并与荒漠化地区气候变化数据相比较。结果表明：黑戈壁地区年平均气温增温速率为0.34 ℃/10 a,高于0.25 ℃/10 a的荒漠化地区;年降水量增长率为1.33 mm/10 a,略小于荒漠化地区1.66 mm/10 a的年降水量增长率;年地面风速减小率为-0.10 m·s^-1/10 a,不如荒漠化地区-0.14 m·s^-1/10 a的值;年大风日数减少率为-1.83d/10a,远不如荒漠化地区-3.44 d/10 a的值;年沙尘暴日数减少率为-1.83 d/10 a,比荒漠化地区-1.77 d/10 a的减少率略明显。Mann-Kendall方法检验表明,除年降水量外,其他气候因子只有一个突变点。不同气候因子的空间分布是不同的。     

Numerical simulation and evaluation of Asian dust events observed in Mongolia in spring 2011

The Asian dust forecasting model, Mongolian Asian Dust Aerosol Model (MGLADAM), has been operated by the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring of Mongolia since 2010, for the forecast of Asian dust storms. In order to evaluate the performance of the dust prediction model, we simulated Asian dust events for the period of spring 2011. Simulated features were compared with observations from two sites in the dust source region of the Gobi desert in Mongolia, and in the downstream region in Korea. It was found that the simulated wind speed and friction velocity showed a good correlation with observations at the Erdene site (one of the sites in the Gobi desert). The results show that the model is proficient in the simulation of dust concentrations that are within the same order of magnitude and have similar start and end times, compared with PM₁₀ observed at two monitoring sites in the Gobi regions. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the dust simulation ranges up to 200 μg m^?3 because of the high concentrations in source regions, which is three times higher than that in the downstream region. However, the spatial pattern of dust concentration matches well with dust reports from synoptic observation. In the downwind regions, it was found that the model simluated all reported dust cases successfully. It was also found that the RMSE in the downwind region increased when the model integration time increased, but that in the source regions did not show consistent change. It suggests that MGLADAM has the potential to be used as an operational dust forecasting model for predicting major dust events over the dust source regions as well as predicting transported dust concentrations over the downstream region. However, it is thought that further improvement in the emission estimation is necessary, including accurate predictions in surface and boundary layer meteorology. In the downwind regions, background PM₁₀ concentration is considerably affected by other aerosol species, suggesting that a consideration of anthropogenic pollutants will be required for accurate dust forecasting.     

Seasonal variations in Dustfall and its iron content over North China

Extensive dustfall collections were carried out from April 2001 to May 2002 in North China. The highest level of dustfall occurred in the Gobi deserts and at the margins of sandy deserts in the region. The iron content in dustfall in North China varied from 0.6% to 6.0% and there was significant seasonal variation, which indicates the dust sources differed during the year. Although the iron content in dustfall in North China is higher in the Loess Plateau and arable lands and lower in the Gobi and sandy deserts, the total iron deposition was higher in the Gobi desert regions. If the fine particles （PM10） in dustfall in North China are the major contributors of dust transport to eastern China and western parts of the North Pacific, then the annual deposition rates of iron may have been underestimated in previous studies. Our analysis indicates that iron deposition may reach 1.38 × 10^3 to 2.43 × 10^3 kg km^-2 and that most iron deposition occurs in spring and summer. If the more-coarse fractions （PM50） are considered, deposition rates may reach 2.75 × 10^3 and 6.80 × 10^3 kg km^-2, which would represent a large source of iron deposition in eastern China and the western North Pacific.     

Numerical simulations of Asian dust events: A Lagrangian Dust Model and its applications

An uni-modal Lagrangian Dust Model (LDM) was developed to simulate the dust concentrations and source-receptor (SR) relationships for recent Asian dust events that occurred over the Korean Peninsula. The following dust sources were used for the S-R calculation in this study: S-I) Gurbantunggut desert, S-II) Taklamakan desert, S-III) Tibetan Plateau, S-IV) Mu Us Desert, S-V) Manchuria, and S-VI) Nei Mongol and Gobi Desert. The following two 8-day dust simulation periods were selected for two case studies: (Period A) March 15–22, 2011, and (Period B) April 27–May 4, 2011. During two periods there were highly dense dust onsets observed over a wide area in Korea. Meteorological fields were generated using the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) meteorological model, and Lagrangian turbulent properties and dust emission were estimated using FLEXPART model and ADAM2 (Asian Dust Aerosol Model 2), respectively. The simulated dust concentrations are compared with point measurements and Eulerian model outputs. Statistical techniques were also employed to determine the accuracy and uncertainty associated with the model results. The results showed that the LDM compared favorably well with observations for some sites; however, for most sites the model overestimated the observations. Analysis of S-R relationships showed that 38–50% of dust particles originated from Nei Mongol and the Gobi Desert, and 16–25% of dust particles originated from Manchuria, accounting for most of the dust particles in Korea. Because there is no nudging or other artificial forcing included in the LDM, higher error indicators (e.g., root mean square error, absolute gross error) were found for some sites. However, the LDM was able to satisfactorily simulate the maximum timing and starting time of dust events for most sites. Compared with the Eulerian model, ADAM2, the results of LDM found pattern correlations (PCs) equal to 0.78-0.83 and indices of agreement (IOAs) greater than 0.6, suggesting that LDM is capable of estimation of dust concentrations with the quantitative information on the S-R relationships that can be easily obtained by LDM.     

河西地区非均匀下垫面的大气变性过程

利用ＨＥＩＦＥ野外观测资料，分析了河西地区黑河流域夏半年下面动力和热力特性的不均匀 ；并以个别具有一定代表性的晴天观测资料为例，客观地分析了绿洲与沙漠或戈壁下垫面突变所产生的近地层大气变性过程；初步解释发绿洲近地层逆温和沙漠或戈壁近地层逆湿的形成机制，同时也讨论了绿洲和沙的水汽输送过程。     

TRAJECTORY ANALYSES OF THE DUSTSTORMS OVER EAST ASIA*

The transports of dust are calculated using 3-dimensional(3-D) trajectory method for three cases of duststorms in the terrain-following coordinate system,and the synoptic processes are also discussed for each case.The case of 17-20 April 1980,a severe duststorm was associated with the rapid development of a cyclone over the Mongolia Plateau.The dust moved from west to east across several deserts,formed a typical dust path in spring.The other two were weaker and the dust was triggered by the strong wind behind the cold front from northwest or north.Because the vertical velocity is considered in 3-D trajectory analysis,trajectories calculated should better reveal the transport rule of the dust particles and the results seem to be more consistent with the synoptic processes.The trajectory analysis on the 2-D isobaric surfaces is simpler but can be used only in the conditions with weak vertical wind shear and weak vertical velocity.The difference of trajectories at lower levels between two methods may be caused by the different treatment of orography.     

Numerical simulation of the critical scale of oasis maintenance and development in the arid regions of Northwest China

Oasis is a special geographic landscape among the vast desert/Gobi in Northwest China (NWC). The surface sensitive heat flux and latent heat flux at Zhangye Oasis during 1 to 11 August 1991 are simulated using the NCAR nonhydrostatic mesoscale model MM5 Version 3. The horizontal grid resolution is set as 1km. By comparing the simulation results with HEIFE observations, it is proved that the model can be used to simulate the surface energy and water mass exchange of arid and semiarid regions in NWC.Based on the above results, the influence of different oasis scales on the local atmospheric field near the ground surface, and the critical scale of oasis maintenance, in NWC are studied dynamically. The following conclusion is obtained: the local thermal circulation between the oasis and the desert/Gobi is formed in the oasis downstream if the oasis scale is larger than 4 km. This local thermal circulation between the oasis and the desert adjacent to the oasis helps to conserve water vapor over the oasis. At the sametime, it transfers the abundant water vapor from the oasis into the desert/Gobi near to the oasis to supply relatively plentiful water vapor for desert crops to grow on the fringe of the oasis. So, it is advantageous for oasis extension. However, if the scale of the oasis is smaller than 4 km, it is not easy for the local thermal circulation between the oasis and the desert/Gobi to take shape. This study provides a new standpoint for oasis maintenance and development.     

Comparative inverse analysis of satellite (MODIS) and ground (PM10) observations to estimate dust emissions in East Asia

Soil dust aerosol is the largest contributor to aerosol mass concentrations in the troposphere and has considerable effects on air quality and climate. Arid and semi-arid areas of East Asia are one of the important dust source regions thus it is crucial to understand dust mobilization and accurately estimate dust emissions in East Asia. However, present dust models still contain large uncertainties with dust emissions that remain a significant contributor to the overall uncertainties in the model. In this study, we attempt to reduce these uncertainties by using an inverse modeling technique and obtain optimized dust emissions. We use Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depths (AODs) and groundbased mass concentrations of particles less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) observations over East Asia in May 2007. The MODIS AODs are validated with AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) AODs. The inversion uses the maximum a posteriori method and the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model (CTM) as a forward model. The model error is large over dust source regions including the Gobi Desert and Mongolia. We find that inverse modeling analyses from the MODIS and PM₁₀ observations consistently result in decrease of dust emissions over Mongolia and the Gobi Desert. Whereas over the Taklamakan Desert and Manchuria, the inverse modeling analyses from both observations yield contrast results such as increase of dust sources using MODIS AODs, while decrease of those using PM₁₀ observations. We discuss some limitations of both observations to obtain the optimized dust emissions and suggest several strategies for the improvement of dust emission estimates in the model.     

西北干旱区地表辐射特性的初步研究

利用2000年5－6月敦煌（戈壁）陆面过程野外观测实验加强期的地表辐射观测资料以及HEIFE中绿洲（张掖）和沙漠两站1991年同期的地表辐射观测资料，分析了三种不同下垫面晴天地表辐射各分量的日变化特征。结果表明：绿洲地区和沙漠区总辐射略高于敦煌戈壁区；地表反射率沙漠区和敦煌区明显高于绿洲区，地面有效辐射戈壁区最大，张掖绿洲区最小，地表净辐射张掖绿洲区明显大于沙漠和戈壁区。     

策勒沙漠-绿洲输沙及动力环境特征

利用2012年4月9日—5月9日策勒沙漠和绿洲内部测点的输沙及气象资料,分析了沙漠与绿洲内部沙尘传输的差异性,并从风动力环境上揭示了成因。结果表明:(1)观测期间,通过沙漠测点100 cm(宽)×200 cm(高)断面的沙尘总量为117.5 kg,通过绿洲内部棉田相同断面的沙尘总量为15.1 kg,比沙漠测点减少了87.1%;(2)过渡带和防护林带对风速的消减作用明显,观测期间,沙漠测点起沙风的持续时间为97.4 h,棉田测点仅为18.9 h;(3)观测期间,沙漠测点的总输沙势为114.2 VU,合成输沙势为72.8 VU,合成输沙方向为65.5°;棉田测点的总输沙势为16.1 VU,合成输沙势为15.1 VU,合成输沙方向为104.5°。荒漠过渡带和绿洲防护林通过降低绿洲内部的风速,改变动力环境,削弱沙尘在绿洲区的传输。     

IMPACT OF DESERT DUST ON THE EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON

The radiative forcing (RF) of Asian desert dust and its regional feedbacks to the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) system are investigated with a coupled regional climate-desert dust model. The statistical significance of desert dust effects are analyzed through 20 summer seasons (1990-2009). In order to estimate the dust effects reasonably, some improvement has been achieved for the coupled model, including the updates of optical properties and desert source area distribution. We find that the desert dust can result in a roughly weakened monsoon in eastern China, Korean Peninsula, Japan and Indian Peninsula and a strengthened monsoon in Indochina Peninsula in the lower troposphere. Moreover, the precipitation comparisons between observational data and simulated patterns are also suggestive of the desert dust effect on the EASM. In the upper troposphere, the southward shift of the westerly jet (WJ) by the dust effect can be seen as an indicator of the weakened monsoon in great part of the monsoon areas. The change of the moist static energy (MSE) contrast between land and ocean is the main reason for the EASM variations.     

黑河实验区沙漠戈壁上空“逆湿”的数值模拟

本文采用区域大气模拟系统－RAMS,模拟了黑河实验区沙漠戈壁上空的“逆湿”,并研究了“逆湿”发生时沙漠戈壁大气边界层结构,模拟结果表明,“逆湿”形成是平流作用的结果,沙漠戈壁边界层内较小的风速,弱不稳定层结及存在的下沉气流都有利于其近地层内逆湿的形成。     

On the observations of Mount St Helens volcanic emissions: Research note

Abstract

The envelopes of dust clouds from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens in Washington State, U.S.A. were plotted as they traversed the northern United States and southern Canada. Visibility observations at many meteorological stations indicated the presence of volcanic ash and smoke and verified trajectory calculations. In addition, sulphur dioxide released by the volcano was detected as it passed over Toronto, Ontario, while satellite photographs showed dust clouds in the upper atmosphere.     

中国西北三类典型裸土下垫面地表宽波段发射率变化特征研究

利用2013年我国西北戈壁、沙漠和黄土塬区三类典型裸土下垫面野外观测试验资料,探究了上述地区地表向下、向上长波辐射（DLR&ULR）、地表温度（LST）和地表宽波段发射率（LSBE）的变化特征,结果表明:黄土站地表ULR和LST明显比戈壁和沙漠站偏低;戈壁宽波段发射率（GbBE）、沙漠宽波段发射率（DeBE）和黄土宽波段发射率（LoBE）具有明显的变化特征,尤其是日变化特征;观测期内GbBE、DeBE和LoBE平均值分别约为0.926±0.0452、0.916±0.0419和0.881±0.049。三站点地表宽波段发射率的数值大小和变化特征与陆面模式中所指定的参数化情况不符。地表发射率会受站点周围环境和当时气象条件等因素的影响,表层土壤湿度被认为是一个非常重要的影响因子,将来的野外观测试验中需加强相关影响要素的观测与分析。     

中国地区沙尘气溶胶输送过程的数值模拟

本文建立了一个包含沙尘起沙、输送、干沉积和湿沉积过程的气溶胶输送扩散模式．并和中尺度气候模式RIEMS相连接研究了1998年1月、4月、7月和1997年10月的沙尘起沙、输送、干沉积和湿沉积的过程。计算1998年1月、4月、7月和1997年10月气溶胶浓度及其分布．并和这四个月份的平均起沙分布以及北京、郑州和南京的实例沙尘分布作了比较．结果表明我国起沙多发生在春季．同时春季也是我国沙尘强度最大的季节。沙尘在我国西北的沙地和沙漠地区起沙后．向我国的东南方向输送．在输送过程中沙尘浓度逐渐降低。     

Turbulence Structure In Unstable Conditions Over Various Surfaces

A comprehensive study of the turbulent structure of the atmospheric boundary layer in unstable conditions has been carried out using turbulence data obtained from the Gobi desert, grassland, suburban and urban sites based on the same instrumentation, data acquisition and data processing systems. The normalized standard deviations of u and v over the suburban and urban sites are systematically smaller than those over the Gobi desert and grassland sites. However, the normalized standard deviations of w, temperature and humidity q over the suburban and urban sites are quite close to those over the Gobi desert and grassland sites. The normalized humidity standard deviations are quite similar to those of temperature over the grassland and suburban sites. The temperature and humidity spectra are found to be independentof atmospheric stability in all frequency ranges, but spectra obtained from the Gobi desert and grassland sites reveal flatter peaks than those of the suburban and urban sites in the lower frequency range. The normalized spectral curves of temperature and humidity are independent of atmospheric stability both at high and low frequencies. The spectral characteristics of humidity over the grassland and suburban sites aresimilar to those of temperature, but the humidity spectra over the Gobi desert site are quite different from temperature spectra due to evaporation and/or large eddies in the boundary layer.