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

Tong, Daniel; Mo, Dan; Wang, T.; Lee, P.

doi:10.5194/acp-12-5189-2012

Cited by 80 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Among these data sets, only the in situ IMPROVE data have been used previously to identify dust storm activities (Bell et al, 2007;Tong et al, 2012). In comparison, the EPA AQS data set, which has incorporated the aerosol mass observations from the IM-PROVE network, has better spatial and temporal coverage for mass concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 (particulate matter with a size less than 10 µm and 2.5 µm, respectively), which is beneficial in mass concentration analysis.…”

Section: Specific Analysis In Multiple Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These calculations have been performed in previous dust storm identification studies (Bell et al, 2007;Tong et al, 2012). In this study, however, a group of additional data sets and analyses are employed.…”

Section: Specific Analysis In Multiple Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an extreme event, a dust storm is a major natural disaster that has affected both social life and public health in recent decades (Prospero, 1999;Tong et al, 2012). In the long term, frequent dust storms can affect climate, in addition to air quality and human health .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, satellite data from MODIS and MISR have been used to retrieve the AOD measurements of dust storm events (Baddock et al, 2009;Waggoner and Sokolik, 2010;Ginoux et al, 2012). Some studies have noted deficiencies in using individual observation data sets in dust analyses (Tong et al, 2012;Kim et al, 2012), while some others have used AERONET and satellite data sets together to understand the optical properties of dust storm events . However, the identified physical characteristics and time series of dust storm events vary greatly when based on different data sets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, the characteristics of dust storm events have previously been examined using stationary aerosol concentration data from the IMPROVE network (Bell et al, 2007;Tong et al, 2012). The optical properties of dust storm events have also been analyzed based on laser detection in AERONET (Chin et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Observed characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States using meteorological, satellite, and air quality measurements

Lei

Wang

2014

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. To improve dust storm identification over the western United States, historical dust events measured by air quality and satellite observations are analyzed based on their characteristics in data sets of regular meteorology, satellitebased aerosol optical depth (AOD), and air quality measurements. Based on the prevailing weather conditions associated with dust emission, dust storm events are classified into the following four typical types:(1) The key feature of cold front-induced dust storms is their rapid process with strong dust emissions.(2) Events caused by meso-to small-scale weather systems have the highest levels of emissions.(3) Dust storms caused by tropical disturbances show a stronger air concentration of dust and last longer than those in (1) and (2).(4) Dust storms triggered by cyclogenesis last the longest.In this paper, sample events of each type are selected and examined to explore characteristics observed from in situ and remote-sensing measurements. These characteristics include the lasting period, surface wind speeds, areas affected, average loading on ground-based optical and/or air quality measurements, peak loading on ground-based optical and/or air quality measurements, and loading on satellite-based aerosol optical depth. Based on these analyses, we compare the characteristics of the same dust events captured in different data sets in order to define the dust identification criteria. The analyses show that the variability in mass concentrations captured by in situ measurements is consistent with the variability in AOD from stationary and satellite observations. Our analyses also find that different data sets are capable of identifying certain common characteristics, while each data set also provides specific information about a dust storm event.For example, the meteorological data are good at identifying the lasting period and area impacted by a dust event; the ground-based air quality and optical measurements can capture the peak strength well; aerosol optical depth (AOD) from satellite data sets allows us to better identify dust-stormaffected areas and the spatial extent of dust. The current study also indicates that the combination of in situ and satellite observations is a better method to fill gaps in dust storm recordings.

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Section: Specific Analysis In Multiple Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Specific Analysis In Multiple Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Observed characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States using meteorological, satellite, and air quality measurements

Lei

Wang

2014

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Earlier onset of the spring fine dust season in the southwestern United States

Hand

White

Gebhart

et al. 2016

Geophysical Research Letters

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Particulate matter (PM)2.5 dust concentrations (mineral particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 µm) typically peak in spring and early summer at rural and remote sites across the southwestern United States. Trend analyses indicate that springtime regional mean PM2.5 dust concentrations have increased from 1995 to 2014, especially in March (5.4% yr−1, p < 0.01). This increase reflects an earlier onset of the spring dust season across the Southwest by 1 to 2 weeks over the 20 year time period. March dust concentrations were strongly correlated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index (r = −0.65, p < 0.01), which was mostly in its negative phase from 2007 to 2014, during which the region was drier, windier, and less vegetated. The positive spring trend and its association with large‐scale climate variability have several important implications for visibility, particulate matter, health effects, and the hydrologic cycle in the region.

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Spatial and seasonal variability in fine mineral dust and coarse aerosol mass at remote sites across the United States

2017

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Understanding the spatial and temporal variability in fine mineral dust (FD, mineral aerosols with diameters less than 2.5 µm) and coarse aerosol mass (CM, mass of aerosols with diameters between 2.5 and 10 µm) is important for accurately characterizing and perhaps mitigating their environmental and climate impacts. The spatial and seasonal variability of ambient FD and CM was characterized at rural and remote sites across the United States for 2011–2014 using concentration and elemental chemistry data from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) aerosol monitoring network. FD concentrations were highest (and had ≥50% contributions to PM2.5 mass) in the southwestern United States in spring and across the central and southeastern United States in summer (20–30% of PM2.5 mass). CM was highest across the Southwest and southern Great Plains in spring and central United States in spring, summer, and fall (≥70% contributions to PM10 mass). Similar FD and CM seasonal variability was observed near source regions in the Southwest, but a seasonal decoupling was observed in most other regions, suggesting the contribution of nonlocal sources of FD or perhaps non‐dust‐related CM. The seasonal and spatial variability in FD elemental ratios (calcium, iron, and aluminum) was fairly uniform across the West; however, in the eastern United States a shift in summer elemental composition indicated contributions from nonlocal source regions (e.g., North Africa). Finally, long‐term trend analyses (2000–2014) indicated increased FD concentrations during spring at sites across the Southwest and during summer and fall in the southeastern and central United States.

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

Cited by 80 publications

References 56 publications

Observed characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States using meteorological, satellite, and air quality measurements

Observed characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States using meteorological, satellite, and air quality measurements

Earlier onset of the spring fine dust season in the southwestern United States

Spatial and seasonal variability in fine mineral dust and coarse aerosol mass at remote sites across the United States

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