An analysis on the impact of large-scale transports of dust pollution on air quality in East Asia as observed in central Korea in 2014

Abstract

The large-scale transport of dust air pollution in the East Asian region has been being monitored using satellites and ground-based measurements in central Korea for the last 20 years. Severe haze in eastern China as well as dust storms in Mongolia and northern China occurred and moved toward central Korea during the first 5 months of 2014. In addition, severe prolonged haze in eastern China occurred on a large scale in February 2014. The daily mass concentrations originating from haze and dust storms at a background observation site in central Korea exceeded the air quality standard of PM10 (100 μg m−3 day−1) and PM2.5 (50 μg m−3 day−1). Dust loadings caused by dust air pollution from Mongolia and China are clearly worsening the air quality in the background area in central Korea. Anthropogenic dust pollution from severe haze loads dust particulates finer than 2.5 μm. On the other hand, a natural dustfall case originating from a dust storm usually loads coarse dust particulates in the atmosphere. The impact of dust storms on air quality varies depending on the passing route in East Asia.