Drivers of recent decline in dust activity over East Asia

Abstract

It is essential to understand the factors driving the recent decline of dust activity in East Asia for future dust projections. Using a physically-based dust emission model, here we show that the weakening of surface wind and the increasing of vegetation cover and soil moisture have all contributed to the decline in dust activity during 2001 to 2017. The relative contributions of these three factors to the dust emission reduction during 2010–2017 relative to 2001 are 46%, 30%, and 24%, respectively. Much (78%) of the dust emission reduction is from barren lands, and a small fraction (4.6%) of the reduction is attributed to grassland vegetation increase that is partly ascribed to the ecological restoration. This suggests that the ecological restoration plays a minor role in the decline of dust activity. Rather, the decline is mainly driven by climatic factors, with the weakening of surface wind playing the dominant role.

Warmth Favored Dust Activities on the Northeastern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau

“…We infer that cold temperatures accelerate seasonal permafrost formation and restrain dust emissions due to frozen soil and ice (Roe, 2009). Contrastingly, under warmer conditions, a rapid thermal reversal triggered by a sudden temperature increase may cause seasonal permafrost to thaw and soil structure to become looser, or a prolonged drought due to increasing temperatures, both will reduce soil cohesion and increased susceptibility to dust activity (Biskaborn et al., 2019; Liang et al., 2022; C. Wu et al., 2022; Yin et al., 2021; J. Zhang et al., 2022b).…”

“…The temperature and humidity in the source region can affect the source materials and hence the intensity of dust activity, furthermore, surface wind speed is also a crucial factor for the occurrence of dust storms in Asia (Tai et al, 2021;C. Wu et al, 2022;Yin et al, 2021;J.…”

Unintended consequences of combating desertification in China

“…The relevant analyses were performed using ArcMap 10.6. Noted that the programmes implemented before 2000s such as the Great Green Wall Program (launched in 1978) were not considered in this work although they had influence on vegetation condition 3 , 4 , because they did not link to the issues about ecological and economic trade-offs arising from farmland and grassland restrictions.…”

“…Due to the potential significant effects of desertification on China’s ecology and food security, the Chinese government has carried out several desertification-combating actions to improve vegetation condition 3 , 4 , and since the early 2000s, more major countermeasures involving widespread “grain-for-green” and grazing exclusion practices were implemented 5 (Supplementary Note 2 ). These activities have been implemented under a number of environmental programmes, and are supported by laws and regulations such as the Grassland Law 6 , 7 .…”

Studying the function of ecosystem in preventing aeolian dust emission in the dryland areas of China

“…In this study, it is challenging to conduct a comprehensive validation of the simulated results due to the limited measured datasets, not only in China but worldwide (Xi & Sokolik, 2015), and the few correlational types of research on FEPDE. Several researchers have attempted to evaluate the model results using ground station dusty weather observation (e.g., dust storm frequency) or satellite aerosol products (e.g., dust aerosol optical depth) (Gkikas et al, 2021; Tan et al, 2012; Wu et al, 2022; Xi & Sokolik, 2015). Here, we used three most common methods to validate our simulated results.…”