scholarly journals Characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 14195-14220 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lei ◽  
J. X. L. Wang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Cold Fronts ◽  
Deep Blue ◽  
Modis Aod

Abstract. In order to better understand the characteristics of dust storm processes over the western United States, available dust storm events reported by media or recorded by NASA earth observatory are classified into four types based on the prevailing weather systems. Then these four types of dust storm events related to cold fronts, downbursts, tropical disturbances, and cyclogenesis and their selected typical representative events are examined to explore their identifiable characteristics based on in-situ and remote sensing measurements. We find that the key feature of cold front-induced dust storms is their rapid process with strong dust emissions. Events caused by rapid downbursts have the highest rates of emissions. Dust storms due to tropical disturbances show stronger air concentrations of dust and last longer than those caused by cold fronts and downbursts. Finally, dust storms caused by cyclogenesis last the longest. The analysis of particulate matter records also shows that the relative ratio of PM10 (size less than 10 μm) values on dust storm-days to non-dust storm-days is a better indicator of event identification compared to previous established indicators. Moreover, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from both in-situ and satellite datasets allow us to capture dust storm processes. We show that MODIS AOD retrieved from the deep blue data better identify dust storm-affected areas and the spatial extension of event intensity. Our analyses also show that the variability in mass concentrations during dust storm processes captured only by in-situ observations is consistent with the variability in AOD from stationary or satellite observations. The study finally indicates that the combination of in-situ and satellite observations is a better method to fill gaps in dust storm recordings.

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

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 7847-7857 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lei ◽  
J. X. L. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Air Quality Measurements ◽  
Quality Measurements

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, satellite-based 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-storm-affected 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.

scholarly journals International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere: An International Polar Year Legacy Consortium

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 1033-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taneil Uttal ◽  
Sandra Starkweather ◽  
James R. Drummond ◽  
Timo Vihma ◽  
Alexander P. Makshtas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
International Polar Year ◽  
Network Measurements ◽  
International Polar ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
Arctic Atmosphere

Abstract International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA) activities and partnerships were initiated as a part of the 2007–09 International Polar Year (IPY) and are expected to continue for many decades as a legacy program. The IASOA focus is on coordinating intensive measurements of the Arctic atmosphere collected in the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, and Greenland to create synthesis science that leads to an understanding of why and not just how the Arctic atmosphere is evolving. The IASOA premise is that there are limitations with Arctic modeling and satellite observations that can only be addressed with boots-on-the-ground, in situ observations and that the potential of combining individual station and network measurements into an integrated observing system is tremendous. The IASOA vision is that by further integrating with other network observing programs focusing on hydrology, glaciology, oceanography, terrestrial, and biological systems it will be possible to understand the mechanisms of the entire Arctic system, perhaps well enough for humans to mitigate undesirable variations and adapt to inevitable change.

scholarly journals On the role of dust storms in triggering atmospheric gravity waves observed in the middle atmosphere

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1647-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Das ◽  
A. Taori ◽  
A. Jayaraman
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Atmospheric Perturbations ◽  
Atmospheric Gravity

Abstract. Lower atmospheric perturbations often produce measurable effects in the middle and upper atmosphere. The present study demonstrates the response of the middle atmospheric thermal structure to the significant enhancement of the lower atmospheric heating effect caused by dust storms observed over the Thar Desert, India. Our study from multi-satellite observations of two dust storm events that occurred on 3 and 8 May 2007 suggests that dust storm events produce substantial changes in the lower atmospheric temperatures as hot spots which can become sources for gravity waves observed in the middle atmosphere.

scholarly journals Application of HYSPLIT and WRF/Chem Models to Investigate the Dust Storm Episodes

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parya Broomandi ◽  
Bahram Dabir ◽  
Babak Bonakdarpour ◽  
Yousef Rashidi
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Distribution ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Background: Long-range transport of dust aerosol has intense impacts on theatmospheric environment over wide areas. Methods: The annual and seasonal changes inmeteorological parameters associated with the occurrence of dust storms were studied. Thefeatures of an intense dust storm and its transport characteristics were studied during June 7thto June 9th 2010 in Ahvaz city. Temporal and spatial distribution of Middle Eastern dust stormevent was analyzed by models of HYSPLIT and WRF/Chem, and in- situ observations. Results:A disagreement between the occurrences of dust storms, temperature, relative humidity andrainfall, show the major source of dust storms over Ahvaz city are neighboring countries. UsingHYSPLIT results, the dust particles are mainly transported from north western region of Iraqand eastern Syria to downward areas including Ahvaz city. The arrived Dust aerosols mixedwith local anthropogenic emissions, led to the highest PM10 concentration of 4200 ppm. Themodel results were found to well reproduce temporal and spatial distribution of mineral dustconcentrations according to in-situ measurements. Conclusion: The performance of WRF/Chemwas acceptable for simulation of temporal and spatial distributions of dust storm events.Therefore, it can be taken as a reference in daily air quality forecasting.

scholarly journals Investigation of severe dust storms over the Pan-Eurasian area using multi-satellite observations and ground-based measurements

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu She ◽  
Yong Xue ◽  
Jie Guang ◽  
Yahui Che ◽  
Cheng Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Central China ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Gobi Desert ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Hysplit Model

Abstract. The deserts in East Asia are one of the most influential mineral dust source regions in the world. Large amounts of dust particles are emitted and transported to distant regions. A super dust storm characterized by long-distance transport occurred over the Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX) area in early May 2017. In this study, multi-satellite/sensor observations and ground-based measurements combined with the HYbrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model were used to analyse the dynamical processes of the origin and transport of the strong dust storm. The optical and microphysical properties of the dust particles were analysed using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements. From the multi-satellite observations, the dust storms were suggested to have originated from the Gobi Desert on the morning of 3 May 2017, and it transported dust northeastward to the Bering Sea, eastward to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, and southward to southern Central China. The air quality in China drastically deteriorated as a result of this heavy dust storm; the PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 mm in aerodynamic diameter) concentrations measured at some air quality stations located in northern China reached 4000 μg/m3. During the dust event, the maximum AOD values reached 3, 2.3, 2.8, and 0.65 with sharp drops in the extinction Ångström exponent (EAE) to 0.023, 0.068, 0.03, and 0.097 at AOE_Baotou, Beijing, Xuzhou-CUMT, and Ussuriysk, respectively. The dust storm introduced great variations in the aerosol property, causing totally different spectral single-scattering albedo (SSA) and volume size distribution (VSD). The combined observations revealed comprehensive information about the dynamic transport of dust and the dust affected regions, and the effect of dust storms on the aerosol properties.

scholarly journals Tasman Sea biological response to dust storm events during the austral spring of 2009

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Gabric ◽  
R. Cropp ◽  
G. McTainsh ◽  
H. Butler ◽  
B. M. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Iron Bioavailability ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Tasman Sea

During the austral spring of 2009 several significant dust storms occurred in south-east Australia including the so-called ‘Red Dawn’ event in late September. Estimates of 2.5 Mt total suspended particulate sediment lost off the Australian coast in the 3000km long dust plume make it the largest off-continent loss of soil ever reported. Much of this material was transported over the coastline of New South Wales and into the adjacent Tasman Sea. Long-term model simulations of dust deposition over the south-west Tasman Sea suggest the amount deposited during the spring of 2009 was approximately three times the long-term monthly average. Previous satellite-based analyses of the biological response of Tasman Sea waters to dust-derived nutrients are equivocal or have observed no response. Satellite-derived surface chlorophyll concentrations in the southern Tasman during the spring of 2009 are well above the climatological mean, with positive anomalies as high as 0.5mgm–3. Dust transport simulations indicate strong deposition to the ocean surface, which during both the ‘Red Dawn’ event and mid-October 2009 dust storm events was enhanced by heavy precipitation. Cloud processing of the dust aerosol may have enhanced iron bioavailability for phytoplankton uptake.

scholarly journals Phylogeography and population genetics of a widespread cold-adapted ant, Prenolepis imparis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Tonione ◽  
Ke Bi ◽  
Rob Dunn ◽  
Andrea Lucky ◽  
Neil Tsutsui
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Glacial Cycles ◽  
Cold Adapted ◽  
Contemporary Gene Flow ◽  
Demographic Patterns

Historical climate fluctuations have left genetic signatures on species and populations across North America. Here, we used phylogenetic and population genetic analyses from 1,402 orthologous sequences of 75 individuals obtained through sequencing of Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs) to identify population genetic structure and historical demographic patterns across the range of a widespread, cold-adapted ant, the winter ant, Prenolepis imparis. We relate the genomic patterns to those expected as a result of in situ diversification, maintained connectivity, or recent migration. We recovered five well-supported, genetically isolated clades across the distribution: 1) a basal lineage located in Florida, 2) populations across the southern United States, 3) populations that span the midwestern and northeastern United States, 4) populations from the western United States, and 5) populations in southwestern Arizona and Mexico. Using Bayesian clustering analysis in STRUCTURE and k-means clustering in ADEGENET, we investigated gene flow between these major genetic clades and did not find evidence of gene flow between clades. We did find evidence of localized structure with migration in the western United States clade. High support for five major geographic lineages and lack of evidence of contemporary gene flow indicate in situ diversification across the species’ range, probably influenced by glacial cycles of the late Quaternary.

scholarly journals Synoptic Causes and Socio-Economic Consequences of a Severe Dust Storm in the Middle East

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1435
Author(s):  
Nick Middleton ◽  
Saviz Sehat Kashani ◽  
Sara Attarchi ◽  
Mehdi Rahnama ◽  
Sahar Tajbakhsh Mosalman
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Media Reports

Dust storms represent one of the most severe, if underrated, natural hazards in drylands. This study uses ground observational data from meteorological stations and airports (SYNOP and METARs), satellite observations (MODIS level-3 gridded atmosphere daily products and CALIPSO) and reanalysis data (ERA5) to analyze the synoptic meteorology of a severe Middle Eastern dust storm in April 2015. Details of related socio-economic impacts, gathered largely from news media reports, are also documented. This dust storm affected at least 14 countries in an area of 10 million km2. The considerable impacts were felt across eight countries in health, transport, education, construction, leisure and energy production. Hospitals in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE experienced a surge in cases of respiratory complaints and ophthalmic emergencies, as well as vehicular trauma due to an increase in motor vehicle accidents. Airports in seven countries had to delay, divert and cancel flights during the dust storm. This paper is the first attempt to catalogue such dust storm impacts on multiple socio-economic sectors in multiple countries in any part of the world. This type of transboundary study of individual dust storm events is necessary to improve our understanding of their multiple impacts and so inform policymakers working on this emerging disaster risk management issue.

scholarly journals Observing, Measuring, and Assessing the Consequences of Snow Drought

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United States ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Western United States ◽  
The World ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Freshwater Availability

Abstract Warmer and shorter winters from climate change will reduce snowpacks in most seasonally snow-covered regions of the world, with consequences for freshwater availability in spring and summer when people and ecosystems demand water most. Recent record low snowpacks, such as those in the winters of 2013/14 and 2014/15 in the Western United States, have led to a surge in research on ‘snow droughts,’ which are pointed to as harbingers of global warming that pose significant societal hazards. Yet despite the importance of understanding snow droughts to best prepare for their attendant impacts, the concept remains amorphous, with no agreed-upon definition of what they are, how best to measure them, and how such snow droughts connect to warm-season impacts. These knowledge gaps limit our understanding of the risks posed by snow droughts in the present and future, and thus our preparedness for their differential impacts on freshwater resources. To address these issues, we compile a hemispheric ensemble of in situ, satellite, and reanalysis snowpack datasets. We use this ensemble to evaluate the scientific challenges and uncertainties arising from differences in defining and measuring snow droughts, and identify opportunities to leverage this information to better understand the significance of snow droughts. We show that a clearer quantification of what constitutes a snow drought, including its uncertainties, improves our ability to anticipate costly and disruptive warm-season droughts, which is vital for informing risk management and adaptation to changing snow regimes.

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