An aerosol climatology for a rapidly growing arid region (southern Arizona): Major aerosol species and remotely sensed aerosol properties

Sorooshian, Armin; Wonaschütz, Anna; Jarjour, Elias G.; Hashimoto, Bryce I.; Schichtel, B. A.; Betterton, Eric A.

doi:10.1029/2011jd016197

Cited by 69 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…This finding confirms earlier observations of the dust trends using rainfall and snow deposition, surface fine soil, and aerosol optical depth data [ Brahney et al ., 2013; Clow et al ., 2016; Sorooshian et al ., 2011; Hand et al ., 2016]. The climate analysis further links the dust trend with large‐scale climate variations, particularly the SST oscillation in the Northern Pacific, as described by PDO variability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States

Tong

Wang

Gill

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

189

170

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Climate models have consistently projected a drying trend in the southwestern United States, aiding speculation of increasing dust storms in this region. Long‐term climatology is essential to documenting the dust trend and its response to climate variability. We have reconstructed long‐term dust climatology in the western United States, based on a comprehensive dust identification method and continuous aerosol observations from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network. We report here direct evidence of rapid intensification of dust storm activity over American deserts in the past decades (1988–2011), in contrast to reported decreasing trends in Asia and Africa. The frequency of windblown dust storms has increased 240% from 1990s to 2000s. This dust trend is associated with large‐scale variations of sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean, with the strongest correlation with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. We further investigate the relationship between dust and Valley fever, a fast‐rising infectious disease caused by inhaling soil‐dwelling fungus (Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii) in the southwestern United States. The frequency of dust storms is found to be correlated with Valley fever incidences, with a coefficient (r) comparable to or stronger than that with other factors believed to control the disease in two endemic centers (Maricopa and Pima County, Arizona).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States

Tong

Wang

Gill

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

189

170

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“…As discussed by many field and model studies, windblown dust emission is a complicated process that has not been fully understood. In addition, these processes are increasingly complicated by human disturbance of the land surface, such as the rapid urbanization in southern Arizona (Sorooshian et al, 2011). Future analysis of the meteorological parameters and surface conditions over these regions is needed to further investigate the underlying mechanisms causing the interannual variations.…”

Section: Dust Activities In the Western United Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term dust climatology in the western United States reconstructed from routine aerosol ground monitoring

Tong

Wang

et al. 2012

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. This study introduces an observation-based dust identification approach and applies it to reconstruct longterm dust climatology in the western United States. Longterm dust climatology is important for quantifying the effects of atmospheric aerosols on regional and global climate. Although many routine aerosol monitoring networks exist, it is often difficult to obtain dust records from these networks, because these monitors are either deployed far away from dust active regions (most likely collocated with dense population) or contaminated by anthropogenic sources and other natural sources, such as wildfires and vegetation detritus. Here we propose an approach to identify local dust events relying solely on aerosol mass and composition from general-purpose aerosol measurements. Through analyzing the chemical and physical characteristics of aerosol observations during satellite-detected dust episodes, we select five indicators to be used to identify local dust records: (1) high PM 10 concentrations; (2) low PM 2.5 /PM 10 ratio; (3) higher concentrations and percentage of crustal elements; (4) lower percentage of anthropogenic pollutants; and (5) low enrichment factors of anthropogenic elements. After establishing these identification criteria, we conduct hierarchical cluster analysis for all validated aerosol measurement data over 68 IMPROVE sites in the western United States. A total of 182 local dust events were identified over 30 of the 68 locations from 2000 to 2007. These locations are either close to the four US Deserts, namely the Great Basin Desert, the Mojave Desert, the Sonoran Desert, and the Chihuahuan Desert, or in the high wind power region (Colorado). During the eight-year study period, the total number of dust events displays an interesting four-year activity cycle (one in 2000- The monthly frequency of dust events shows a peak from March to July and a second peak in autumn from September to November. The large quantity of dust events occurring in summertime also suggests the prevailing impact of windblown dust across the year. This seasonal variation is consistent with previous model simulations over the United States.

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“…The winter minimum is in agreement with Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), and Goddard Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) data for Tucson AUGUST 2014 P R A B H A K A R E T A L . (Sorooshian et al 2011), which is associated with lower concentrations of particulate matter (both coarse and fine) and lower water vapor content. AOD in Tucson has been found to reach a maximum during the North American monsoon season (Sorooshian et al 2011), which typically lasts from July to September.…”

Section: B Aerosol Optical Depthmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effect of Urban Growth on Aerosol Optical Depth—Tucson, Arizona, 35 Years Later

Prabhakar

Betterton

Conant

et al. 2014

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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Multiwavelength solar irradiance measurements between 400 and 900 nm were made on cloudless days in Tucson, Arizona, over a 30-month period between March 2010 and August 2012. They were analyzed to simultaneously retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) and ozone column abundance and to examine their monthly variation. These retrievals were compared with results from a similar study done at the same location between 1975 and 1977. The near tripling of population in Tucson over the past 35 years may have contributed to a 19% increase in the AOD, and the annual-mean ozone column abundance was found to be 11% lower than that inferred during the mid-1970s.

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An aerosol climatology for a rapidly growing arid region (southern Arizona): Major aerosol species and remotely sensed aerosol properties

Cited by 69 publications

References 104 publications

Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States

Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States

Long-term dust climatology in the western United States reconstructed from routine aerosol ground monitoring

Effect of Urban Growth on Aerosol Optical Depth—Tucson, Arizona, 35 Years Later

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