Abstract
We analyzed the variability of blowing dust weather frequency (BDWF) and patterns in climatic factors over Baicheng for the period 1951-2006 in this study. The data showed that blowing dust over Baicheng occurs intensively during the spring and shows significant inter-decadal variability. One of the main findings is that the occurrence of blowing dust has significantly decreased after the mid-1980s. The mean wind speed (WS), diurnal temperature range (DTR), relative humidity (RH) and precipitation at Baicheng during the spring show decreasing trends. The decreasing trends of the mean WS and DTR are significant at 99% confidence levels according to the t-test; the dataset also indicated a sharp decrease in WS occurred after the mid-1980s. The mean surface air temperature (SAT) escalated in a fluctuating manner during 1951-2006. BDWF at Baicheng was significantly related to local WS, SAT and DTR during the spring [correlation coefficients (CCs) are 0.41, -0.47 and 0.36, respectively]. The correlation between BDWF at Baicheng and selected climatic factors over the sand-dust source regions and transmission paths were also calculated. We found that BDWF is well correlated to the mean WS and SAT during the spring, with CCs of 0.45 and -0.48, respectively. The most likely causes for the dramatic decrease observed in BDWF after the mid-1980s were related to the adjustment of large-scale circulation patterns in response to a decrease of meridional temperature differences, the weakening of steering westerlies and the strengthening of downward motions that has occurred at the middle latitudes of eastern Eurasia in recent decades.
Highlights
Dust carried by high winds, especially as dust storms, are one of the main disastrous weather phenomenon affecting northern China
The proportion of blowing dust weather frequency (BDWF) in the spring as related to the total BDWF is about 75% during the period of 1951 - 2006, with a maximum value of 33% occurring in April
The inter-seasonal variability of BDWF is well related to the active cold air, strong wind forces, dry air and rising temperature in northern China during the spring (Zhou 2001; Zhang et al 2002)
Summary
Dust carried by high winds, especially as dust storms, are one of the main disastrous weather phenomenon affecting northern China. When dust events such as dust storms occur, the suspended particles in the atmosphere dramatically increase, resulting in decreased visibility. Many studies with regard to the occurrence of dusty weather in East Asia have been conducted using statistical analyses of ground observations, model simulations and remote sensing All of the above-mentioned data are averaged for the seasons, such as the winter months (December, January and February, or DJF) and the spring months (March, April and May, or MAM)
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