Climatology of dust storms in northern China and Mongolia: Results from MODIS observations during 2000–2010

Abstract

The climatology of dust storms in northern China and Mongolia (33°N–54°N, 73°E–136°E) is characterized at a 1-km resolution based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) thermal observations during 2000–2010. The dust was extracted with the dynamic reference brightness temperature differences (DRBTD) dust detection algorithm. The major dust source regions are deserts, including the Tarim Basin, Hexi Corridor, Gobi in Mongolia and northern China, Horqin Sandy Land and Qaidam Basin. Dust storms occur most frequently in the Tarim Basin, with a maximum frequency (above 10%) in the eastern narrow inlet of the Taklimakan Desert around Lop Nor. Significant annual and seasonal variations are found for dust events. More than 63.8% of dust events occur in spring from March to May, with the maximum proportion (up to 29.6%) occurring in April. Severe dust storms occur mainly in the deserts in northern and northwestern China, and the largest source region is the eastern narrow inlet and the southern margin of the Taklimakan Desert.