Abstract
The three-dimensional evolution of an East Asian dust storm during 23–26 April 2009 was investigated by utilizing a regional air quality model system (RAQMS) and satellite measurements. This severe dust storm hit Mt. Tai in east China with daily mean PM10concentration reaching 1400 μg/m3and the model captured the PM10variation reasonably well. Modeled spatial distributions of AOD and vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficient during the dust storm were compared with MODIS and CALIPSO data, demonstrating that RAQMS was able to reproduce the 3D structure and the evolution of the dust storm reasonably well. During early days of the dust storm, daily mean dust-induced AOD exceeded 2.0 over dust source regions (the Gobi desert and the Taklamakan desert) and was in a range of 1.2–1.8 over the North China Plain, accounting for about 98% and up to 90% of total AOD over corresponding areas, respectively. The top of the dust storm reached about 8 km over east China, with high dust concentration locating at around 40°N. Dust aerosol below 2 km was transported southeastward off the Gobi desert while dust above 2 km was transported out of China along 40°–45°N.
Highlights
Dust aerosol is one of the most important aerosol components because it is a major contributor to global atmospheric aerosol loading and optical thickness
Huang et al found that dust aerosol can heat the air over Taklamakan desert by a maximum of 5 K/day in summertime [7]; Lau et al found that dust can be a cause of East Asian monsoon anomaly [8]
We studied the three-dimensional structure and evolution of dust storm over East Asia in April 2009 by utilizing a regional air quality model system (RAQMS), mainly focusing on the dust storm period during 23–26 April
Summary
Dust aerosol is one of the most important aerosol components because it is a major contributor to global atmospheric aerosol loading and optical thickness. Since 2006, a new instrument, the space-based two-wavelength, polarizationsensitive backscatter lidar, the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) on board the CloudAerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite began to provide continuous global measurements of aerosol vertical distribution with high spatial resolution [12]. This instrument provides a top-down view to investigate the vertical structure of aerosols including dust. In situ observations at the summit of the Mt. Tai (locating in east China), satellite retrievals of aerosol optical depth (AOD), and space-based lidar measurements are collected and used to verify model simulations and investigate the transport process of the dust storm. Spatial distributions of dust aerosol and dust-induced AOD, as well as vertical distribution of dust extinction coefficient during the dust storm period, were further discussed
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