A super Asian dust storm over the East and South China Seas: Disproportionate dust deposition
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Journal Volume
118
Journal Issue
13
Pages
7169-7181
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Shih-Chieh Hsu
Fujung Tsai
Fei-Jan Lin
Wei-Nai Chen
Fuh-Kwo Shiah
Chuen-Yu Chan
Chung-Chi Chen
Tsun-Hsien Liu
Hung-Yu Chen
Gwo-Wei Hung
Chao-Hao Huang
Shuen-Hsin Lin
Abstract
A super Asian dust (SAD) storm that originated from North China has affected East Asia since 20 March 2010. The tempo-spatial and size distributions of aerosol Al, a tracer of wind-blown dust, were measured on a regional aerosol network in March 2010. Two dust events were recorded: the SAD and a relatively moderate AD event. The SAD clouds raised Al concentrations to ~50 μg/m 3 on 21 and 22 March over the East China Sea (ECS) and occupied there for ~5 days. The SAD plume also stretched toward the South China Sea (SCS) on 21 March however, it caused a maximum Al concentration of ~8.5 μg/m 3 only, much lower than that observed in the ECS. In comparison, a weaker dust plume on 16 March caused Al maximum of ~4 μg/m3 over the ECS, and comparably, ~3 μg/m3 in the SCS. Dry dust deposition was measured during the peak phase of the SAD at 178 mg/m2/d, which corresponded to dry deposition velocities of 0.2-0.6 cm/s only, much lower than the commonly adopted one (1-2 cm/s). The corresponding increase in dust deposition by the SAD was up to a factor of ~12, which was, however, considerably disproportionate to the increase in dust concentration (i.e., the factor of over 100). In certain cases, synoptic atmospheric conditions appear to be more important in regulating dust contribution to the SCS than the strength of AD storms. Key Points A super Asian dust observed on a regional aerosol network over the ocean Increase in dust deposition is disproportionate to that in dust concentration Synoptic weather conditions play a critical role in AD transport to the SCS ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Subjects
Asian dust; dust deposition; dust iron; East China Sea; long-range transport; South China Sea
SDGs
Other Subjects
Aerosols; Aluminum; Atmospheric movements; Coastal zones; Deposition; Storms; Asian dust; Dust deposition; East China Sea; Long range transport; South China sea; Dust; aerosol; aluminum; atmospheric deposition; atmospheric plume; atmospheric pollution; climate conditions; concentration (composition); dust; long range transport; storm; Asia; Pacific Ocean; South China Sea
Type
journal article