Storms In China Research Articles

Correlation of Dust Storms in China with Chlorophyll a Concentration in the Yellow Sea between 1997–2007

AbstractBased on daily observation data at 222 meteorological stations in China, the characteristics of dust storms between 1997 and 2007 were examined. Next, the relationship between dust events and chlorophyll (Chl) a concentration in the Yellow Sea was investigated. There were six regions with high annual frequencies of dust storms. The seasonal distribution of dust storms showed spatiotemporal variation. The six regions with highest annual frequencies also exhibited high frequencies of dust storms in spring. Dust storms in most regions occurred in spring. Of all dust storms in China, sixty-five percent of all dust storms occurred during the spring. The area and frequency of dust storms were smaller in fall and winter than in spring and summer. A significant correlation was found between dust events and Chl a concentration in the Yellow Sea. High correlation regions included Qinghai-Xizang region, part of the Hexi Corridor, the western Inner Mongolia and Hetao Regions, and the Hunshandake Desert. The h...

Influence of an Ice Storm on Aboveground Biomass of Subtropical Evergreen Broadleaf Forest in Lechang, Nanling Mountains of Southern China

This study focuses on the influence of the 2008 ice storm in China and subsequent forest rehabilitation dynamics up until 2011. All seven plots studied exhibited significant damage, with the total number of damaged trees varying between 63 and 92%. In addition, most trees suffered stem bending in 2008 and the extent of damage varied with tree diameter at breast high (DBH). Relationships between loss of biomass as dead trees and stand characteristics were analyzed by multiple stepwise regression. The results showed that the decrease in biomass (Y) could be related to altitude (X1), slope (X2), and aboveground biomass (AGB) in 2008 (X5) according to the following formula:Y=−0.02456X1+0.2815X5−1.480X2+51.23. After 2 to 3 years, tree numbers had declined in all seven plots. The mean increase in AGB (4.9 t ha−1) for six of the plots was less than the biomass loss as dead trees (9.4 t ha−1) over the 3 year periods. This corresponds to a release of CO2to the atmosphere for each plot. Therefore, the forests of Lechang in the Nanling Montains have probably acted as a carbon source to the atmosphere for a short period after the 2008 ice storm.

Asian dust transported one full circuit around the globe

Mineral dust is usually transported long distances in the lower troposphere. There are examples of Asian dust being transported across the Pacific Ocean 1‐7 , and traces of Asian dust have also been found in ice and snow cores in Greenland 8 and the French Alps 9 . Here, we use measurements from the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization 10 , an air parcel trajectory model and a three-dimensional aerosol transport model to map the transport of dust clouds generated during a storm in China’s Taklimakan Desert during May 2007. We show that the dust-veiled clouds were lofted to the upper troposphere around 8‐10 km above the Earth’s surface and transported more than one full circuit around the globe in about 13 days. When the dust reached the northwestern Pacific Ocean for the second time, the subsidence of a large-scale high-pressure system caused it to descend into the lower troposphere; some of the dust was then deposited over the ocean. Our analysis also indicates that the dust particles may have acted as ice nuclei in these high-altitude clouds, leading to the formation of cirrus clouds. We suggest that Asian dust can influence the global radiation budget by stimulating cirrus cloud formation and marine ecosystems by supplying nutrients to the open ocean. The polarization-sensitive Mie lidar is a powerful tool for the measurement of dust aerosols 11 . The first long-duration space-borne lidar optimized solely for atmospheric measurements (CloudAerosol

Ways and means of integrated natural resources management in case of forestation combating dust and sand storms in China

Ways and means of integrated natural resources management in case of forestation combating dust and sand storms in China

Asian dust events: Environmental significance in Beijing

The environmental significance of dust storms (impact on air quality, climatic effects, health effects) is described first in a general terms then in context with the local environment of metropolitan Beijing, China. The regional characteristics of dust storms in China, their sources and transport pathways, the chemical composition and the mixing and interaction with other air pollutants are reviewed.

An investigation of sand–dust storm events and land surface characteristics in China using NOAA NDVI data

Observations from 560 weather stations in China show that sand–dust storms occur most frequently in April in north China. The region consists of Sub-dry Mid Temperate, Dry Mid Temperate, Sub-dry South Temperate and Dry South Temperate Zones and much of the land surface is desert or semi-desert: it is relatively dry with minimal rainfall and a high annual mean temperature. In most regions of China, the annual mean frequency of sand–dust events decreased sharply between 1980 and 1997 and then increased from 1997 to 2000. Statistical analyses demonstrate that the frequency of sand–dust storms correlates highly with wind speed, which in turn is strongly related to land surface features; on the other hand, a significant correlation between storm events and other atmospheric quantities such as precipitation and temperature was not observed. Accordingly, land surface cover characteristics (vegetation, snowfall and soil texture) may play a significant role in determining the occurrence of sand–dust storms in China. Analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index derived from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Empirical Orthogonal Function show that since 1995 surface vegetation cover in large areas of Northern China has significantly deteriorated. Moreover, a high correlation is shown to exist among the annual occurrence of sand–dust storms, surface vegetation cover and snowfall. This suggests that the deterioration of surface vegetation cover may strongly influence the occurrence of sand–dust storms in China. Soils with coarse and medium textures are found to be more associated with sand–dust storms than other soils.

Regional characteristics of dust storms in China

Abstract Regional characteristics of dust storms in northern China are analyzed using a rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF), based on the annual days of dust storms from 1954 to 1998. The relationships between regional dust storms corresponding to other factors such as precipitation and temperature are explored. The results show that five leading modes of dust storms exist in the following areas: the Taklamakan Desert (Tarim Basin) over the Xinjiang region (far northwestern China), the eastern part of Inner Mongolia (North China), the Tsaidam Basin, the Tibetan Plateau, and the upper reaches of the Yellow River (Gobi Desert). These areas are associated with an arid climate and frequent winds. For the first mode in the Tarim Basin, most dust storms appear in the 1980s, while dust storms become less frequent in the 1990s. The second mode (North China) shows the highest frequency of dust storms in the mid-1960s but the frequency decreases afterward. The third mode indicates a decreasing trend of annual dust storms after the mid-1960s but with a high interannual variability. The fourth mode also shows a decreasing trend but with a low interannual variability. The fifth mode displays a high frequency of dust storms in the 1970s followed by a decreasing trend. For the five modes of dust storm distribution, four of the centers are located in desert regions. The annual dust storms of a selected station in each mode region are shown to compare the coefficient time series of these modes. The negative correlation between the prior winter temperature and dust storm frequency is identified for most stations. There is no consistency in the correlation between the dust storm frequency and the annual rainfall as well as the prior winter rainfall at these stations. The activity of dust storms in northern China are directly linked to the cyclone activity, especially for the interdecadal variability.

Modern dust storms in China: an overview

This paper discusses the sources, spatial distribution, frequency and trend of dust storms in China. Most dust storms in China originate from one of three geographic areas: the Hexi (River West) Corridor and western Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Taklimakan Desert, and the central Inner Mongolia Plateau. Dust is most likely from deteriorated grasslands, Gobi, alluvial, lacustrine sediments and wadis at the outer edge of deserts. But deserts themselves contribute only slightly to the dust storm directly. Two geographic areas frequently have dust storms: one is in the western Tarim Basin, a ground surface of deteriorated land and wadi, but it only affects its neighboring areas, and the other one is in the western Inner Mongolia Plateau, a ground surface of Gobi, alluvial and lacustrine sediments, but it causes most of the dust storms in north China. Generally speaking, dust storms have reduced in most regions of China from the 1950 to 2000. Dust storms are highly correlated with human activities and climate changes.

A numerical simulation of dust storms in China

Wind erosion occurs in many arid, semiarid and agricultural areas of the world. The desert areas of China, which occupy approximately 13% of China’s total surface area, are major sources of Asian dust. The major wind-erosion areas are the sandy lands in western and northwestern China together with the extensive regions of the Gobi desert in northern and northeastern China, especially along the basin of the Yellow River. In this paper, dust storms which occurred in China in the spring of 2002 were simulated using an integrated numerical modeling system. The purpose of the simulation is to produce quantitative predictions of wind erosion on regional scales. The integrated wind erosion modeling system used in this study coupled the following three major components: (1) An atmospheric prediction model, together with a land-surface model; (2) a wind-erosion model and (3) a geographic information database. The atmospheric model provides the necessary input data for the wind erosion scheme, including wind speed and precipitation. It also provides input data for the land-surface model that produces predictions for soil moisture. Dust transport and deposition are also considered in the atmospheric model. The wind-erosion model predicts streamwise saltation and dust emission rate for given atmospheric, soil and land surface conditions. The geographic information database provides spatially distributed parameters, such as soil type and vegetation coverage, for the atmospheric, land surface and wind erosion models. Dust storms in China occur mainly in spring and winter, but most frequently in April. In spring, surface soils frozen in the previous winter become especially loose, creating a favorable condition for wind erosion. As an example, the severe dust storms of 15–20 March were simulated. The results show the integrated modeling system can simulate the main characteristics of the dust storms. The system produced estimates of wind erosion intensity and patterns that are in agreement with observations. Such a system offers the possibility of determining wind erosion patterns on broad scales with high spatial resolution, as well as dust transport and deposition.

Climatology of yellow sand (Asian sand, Asian dust or Kosa) in East Asia

In order to study climatology of yellow sand (Asian sand, Asian dust or Kosa) in East Asia, secular fluctuation in China, Korea and Japan in the recent 30 years was presented. The number of days with sand-dust storm at five stations in China—Hotan, Zhangye, Minqin, Jurh and Beijing, decreases a lot at the former three stations, but changed little at the latter two stations. Suggesting that the recent global warming is more evident in Xinjiang and Gansu, where the frequency of cold air invasions from the higher latitudes is decreasing. But, the eastern parts of Mongolia, inner Mongolia, and North China encounter stronger cyclones in early spring as a result of global warming. These cyclones bring cold air from higher latitudes, causing severe dust storms. Secular variation in the annual days with sand-dust storms in China and Kosa days in Korea and Japan show a parallel change with higher frequency from 1975 to 1985. This may be related to the higher frequency of La Nina years. However, different tendency was shown in the period from 1986 to 1996. Since 1996 or 1997, a sharp increase is clear, which may be caused by the developed cyclones in East Asia as well as human activities, and stronger land degradation under La Nina conditions. Anomalies of the total number of stations with Kosa days were discussed in accordance with some synoptic meteorological conditions such as the differences between Siberian anticyclone and Aleutian cyclone center at 500 hPa level during the previous winter.

Dust storms in China: a case study of dust storm variation and dust characteristics

The paper discusses the nature of dust storms, which have inherent environmental implications. The physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of dust sediments collected in Kashi, Taklimakan desert, Kunlun mountains, Donghuang, Lanzhou, Ningxia, Xi'an, Inner Mongolia and Beijing from 1990 to 1994 were studied. The texture of most aeolian deposits ranges from silty clay to clay loam with median particle diameters (Mds) generally between 5 and 63 µm; similar to the loess of central China and the silt/fine sand in western and northern China. The dust sediments were characterized by a predominance of SiO2 and Al2O3 and a high amount of K2O with molar ratios for SiO2/Al2O3 and K2O/SiO2 from 5.17 to 8.43 and 0.009 to 0.0368 respectively. The triple peak spectrum is the main form of mass concentration in a clear sky. In a dust storm it shows as a single peak, with quartz, feldspar, chlorite, illite, calcite and dolomite being the dominant minerals. The physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of the present atmospheric dust are similar to those of wind-blown soils in western and central China. The results suggest that aeolian deposits and the fine-grained fractions of dust sediments collected in northern China are mainly soils transported from the arid and semi-arid regions of China and Mongolia by the prevailing winds.

Variations of the Dust Storm in China and its Climatic Control

Abstract In previous studies, limited meteorological observations were used to investigate the temporal–spatial changes of dust storms in China. Here, the authors use the daily 850-hPa geopotential height of NCEP–NCAR reanalysis for 1948–99 to examine the vortex fluctuations, which represent daily cyclone activity in east Asia. They also use the 1000-hPa air temperature data to explain the decadal change of the cyclone activity. In addition, the grid cyclone frequency for 1948–99 and the temperature and precipitation for 1950–98 are used to calculate the correlation with the dust weather frequency (for 1954–98) in China. Results show that the interannual variability and long-term trend among dust storm frequency, dust weather frequency, air temperature, and cyclone frequency exist in northern China. In the eastern part of China, the frequencies of dust storms and dust weather in the 1950s–70s were about twice that after the mid-1980s. The reason for this feature may be due to the warming in Mongolia and c...

Preliminary study on sand-dust storm disaster and countermeasures in China

As a kind of natural disasters, sand-dust storms frequently occur in deserts and their surrounding areas. The occurrence of this disaster in China’s northwest and north China has exerted an extremely adverse effect upon the environment in China. The management of sand-dust storms is of a systematic project closely related with the environment such as agriculture, ecosystem, forestry, water conservancy, meterology and other aspects. Therefore, studies of the formation, the basic features, causes, temporal-spatial distribution, developing-trend and related disasters of sand-dust storms in China are conducted based on satellite data. The experience of sand-dust storms control and countermeasures in the United States and some other countries are referred. Meanwhile, preliminary countermeasures relating to sand-dust storms in China are proposed.

Sand-dust storms in China: temporal-spatial distribution and tracks of source lands

Sand-dust storm is a special natural disaster that frequently occurs in deserts and their surrounding areas. With the data published onSurface Meteorological Monthly Bulletin andSurface Chart during 1971–1996, the temporal-spatial distribution and annual variation of sand-dust storms are analyzed on the basis of the case study of atmospheric processes. Furthermore, the tracks and source areas of sand-dust storms are determined with the aid of GIS. The results show that except some parts of Qinghai Province and Inner Mongolia as well as Beijing, sand-dust storms decrease apparently in time and space in recent decades in China. Sand-dust storms occur most frequently in spring, especially in April. According to their source areas, sand-dust storms are classified into two types, i.e., the inner-source and outer-source sand-dust storms. Most of the outer-source sand-dust storms move along the north and west tracks. The north-track outer-source sand-dust storms always intrude into China across the Sino-Mongolian border from Hami, a city in the eastern part ofXinjiang, to Xilin Gol, a league in Inner Mongolia, while the west-track ones intrude into China from both southern and northern Xinjiang. The source lands of inner-source sand-dust storms concentrate in the Taklimakan Desert and its surrounding areas in southern Xinjiang, southern part of the Junggar Basin in north of Xinjiang, the Hexi Corridor in western Gansu Province, the dry deserts of Inner Mongolia and the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai.

Spatial and temporal characteristics of dust storms in China and its surrounding regions, 1960–1999: Relations to source area and climate

Compilation and analysis of the past 40 years of dust storm reports from China allow estimation of the meteorological conditions of dust storms, dust transport routes, and eolian source regions. Our results indicate that dust storms in China are highly associated with the frontal systems and the Mongolian cyclonic depression. The spatial distribution of dust storms indicates that there are two dominant source regions of eolian dust raised from China and its surrounding regions. The major source is the gobi deserts in Mongolia and northern China. Another source region is the Taklimakan Desert in western China. However, dust entrained from the two sources makes different contributions to downwind deposition regions. In most cases, dust materials entrained from the gobi deserts of Mongolia and China can only be entrained to an elevation of <3000 m. They are the dominant source materials of the eolian sediments in the Loess Plateau, southeastern China, offshore regions, and the near North Pacific Ocean. Dust materials from the Taklimakan Desert can be entrained to an elevation of >5000 m and then transported over long distances (∼5000 km) by the westerlies. These materials are not the main sources of the dust deposited in the proximal region, such as the Chinese Loess Plateau, but they are important sources of the eolian fraction of pelagic sediment in the remote North Pacific Ocean.

A modeling study of the long-range transport of Kosa using particle trajectory methods

The long-range transport of dust in east Asia is analyzed using a conditioned-particle approach. A one-dimensional K–E model with algebraic stress is used to describe the boundary layer dynamics at various locations along the transport path. The turbulent flow fields created using the boundary layer model are used to simulate the transport and dispersion of dust during a spring storm in China. The particle movement studies in the resultant fields indicate that the turbulence is effective in dispersing the plume in the initial few hours after the emissions take place. The boundary layer shear starts dominating the plume dispersion at later times. The calculated plume growth rate is greater while traveling over land surface than when over the sea. This results from the greater strength of the diurnal oscillation and the larger boundary layer shear over the land surface compared to the sea. Calculated plume widths and concentrations are in good agreement with the limited available observations. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1993.t01-4-00003.x

Study of design storms in China

A study of design storms mainly involves the frequency analysis of point rainfall, depth-duration relationships, depth-area relationships and storm patterns. This paper discusses the application of some effective methods used in China, such as the full use of storm data (including data from field investigation), storm data regionalization, development of isoline maps of statistical parameters of different durations, study of the “fixed-point to fixed-area relationship” and evaluation of Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP).

Modeling atmospheric transport to the Marshall Islands

Isentropic trajectory analyses are presented which support the hypothesis that atmospheric continental material found at Enewetak Atoll (11.3°N, 162.3°E) during the Sea‐Air Exchange (SEAREX) experiments in 1979 had its origin primarily in Asia in the springtime (dry season experiment) and in North and Central America in the summer (wet season experiment). Fields of wind, Montgomery potential, and pressure on isentropic surfaces are obtained from global isobaric analyses by vertical interpolation. Trajectories backward in time from the area at and upwind of the experiment site were calculated using these fields. In April and May 1979 the atmospheric chemistry at Enewetak was influenced strongly by long‐range transport from Asia; this transport was primarily in the potential temperature range 305–315 K with travel times of 8–13 days. Westerly winds over Asia at 350–600 mbar carry continental materials over the ocean, and as the air moves southward, subsidence occurs until the air is entrained in the trade wind flow. During July and August 1979 the transport paths were from open ocean areas and from near North and Central America at 305–310 K with travel times of 17–21 days. The trajectories remained at low levels within the boundary layer during this period. Also discussed is a meteorological analysis of dust storms in China, which shows that a mechanism exists for lifting eolian material to the upper troposphere. There is substantial uncertainty in the individual trajectories, and the factors limiting their accuracy are discussed. Given the consistency of the trajectory analyses with the chemical results, we now have a coherent picture of some of the processes responsible for long‐range transport to the subtropical open ocean.

Recent developments on the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) estimation in China

Abstract This paper deals with regional and seasonal characteristics of rain storms in China which are introducing the most intensive rainfall occurrences. The paper further summarizes the techniques and practices involved for estimating the probable maximum precipitation (PMP). In consequence of inadequate streamflow data and abundance of heavy storms in China, it would be very difficult and dubious to extrapolate a frequency curve to the long return periods required for a spillway of a major structure. Apart from this, there are often dense populated areas downstream from reservoirs. Thus, in the design criterion of earth dams and/or rockfill dams (embankment) for reservoirs of major significance and also for important small dams, whose failure could result in fatalities as well as catastrophic damages, the probable maximum precipitation and probable maximum flood should be used. Thus, generalized charts of 24-hr. point-PMP have been developed.

Observational Evidence of the Influence of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau on the Occurrence of Heavy Rain and Severe Convective Storms in China

The advance and distribution of the belts of rainfall and of heavy rainfall in China are closely related to sudden seasonal changes in the general circulation over East Asia, but the latter, to a great extent, may be the result of thermal and dynamic forcing by the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. Observational evidence indicates that many synoptic systems have their origin in the planetary boundary layer over the plateau and its surroundings. They act as producers not only of severe weather events over the plateau itself, but also of very important rain-bearing synoptic systems over eastern, southern, and even northern China that have been steered out of the plateau. The present study is based on excessively heavy rainfalls that have occurred during the past 50 years (1931–80), and which caused serious, damaging floods in much of China. The presence and influence of Tibetan weather systems could be found in most of these heavy rainfall events. The low-level vortices originating in the plateau play a very significant role in producing the heavy rains.