Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dust particles transport during the rare strong sandstorm process in Northern China in early year 2021

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several sandstorms occured in northern China in early 2021, especially the rare serious one on March 15. The maximum hourly mean concentrations of PM10 in three sandstorm processes in Beijing reached 7506, 2567, and 1456 μg/m3, respectively. The maximum daily mean concentration of PM10 reached 1630 μg/m3. Consecutive days of high PM10 concentrations in mid-to-late March led to the monthly mean concentration exceeding 150 μg/m3 for the first time since 2017, and it also to be the highest monthly mean concentration in recent years. Air mass transport analysis results showed that the strong uplift of dust particles from desertification areas and the long-range transport of dust particles should be the important reasons for the outbreak of large-scale serious sandstorms. The development and eastward movement of the Mongolian cyclone should be mainly responsible for the sandstorms on March 15 and 28. The desertification in Mongolia should be an important cause of these two serious sandstorms. And the arid areas in northern China might have contributed to the intensification of the sandstorms. The arid areas in southern Mongolia and northern Inner Mongolia might be important sources of dust particles for the sandstorm on April 15.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (xuxianmang168@qlu.edu.cn) upon reasonable request.

References

  • An Z, Huang RJ, Zhang R, Tie X, Li G, Cao J, Zhou W, Shi Z, Han Y, Gu Z, Ji Y (2019) Severe haze in northern China: a synergy of anthropogenic emissions and atmospheric processes. Proc Natl Acad Sci 116(18):8657–8666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Luo B, Xie SD (2015) Characteristics of the long-range transport dust events in Chengdu. Southwest China Atmos Environ 122:713–722

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chung YS, Kim HS, Dulam J, Harris J (2003) On heavy dustfall observed with explosive sandstorms in Chongwon-Chongju, Korea in 2002. Atmos Environ 37(24):3425–3433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui M, Lu H, Etyemezian V, Su Q (2019) Quantifying the emission potentials of fugitive dust sources in Nanjing East China. Atmos Environ 207:129–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong Z, Su F, Zhang Z, Wang S (2020) Observation of chemical components of PM2.5 and secondary inorganic aerosol formation during haze and sandy haze days in Zhengzhou China. J Environ Sci 88:316–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu Q, Zhuang G, Li J, Huang K, Wang Q, Zhang R, Fu J, Lu T, Chen M, Wang Q, Chen Y, Xu C, Hou B (2010) Source, long-range transport, and characteristics of a heavy dust pollution event in Shanghai. J Geophys Res. 115:D00K29. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD013208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filonchyk M (2022) Characteristics of the severe March 2021 Gobi Desert dust storm and its impact on air pollution in China. Chemosphere. 287:132219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu X, Wang SX, Cheng Z, Xing J, Zhao B, Wang JD, Hao JM (2014) Source, transport and impacts of a heavy dust event in the Yangtze river Delta, China, in 2011. Atmos Chem Phys 14:1239–1254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan Q, Yang Y, Luo H, Zhao R, Pan N, Lin J, Yang L (2019) Transport pathways of PM10 during the spring in northwest China and its characteristics of potential dust sources. J Clean Prod. 237:117746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gu Y, Liou KN, Jiang JH, Su H, Liu X (2012) Dust aerosol impact on North Africa climate: a GCM investigation of aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions using A-Train satellite data. Atmos Chem Phys 12:1667–1679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan Q, Luo H, Pan N, Zhao R, Yang L, Yang Y, Tian J (2019b) Contribution of dust in northern China to PM10 concentrations over the Hexi corridor. Sci Total Environ 660:947–958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han J, Dai H, Gu Z (2021) Sandstorms and desertification in Mongolia, an example of future climate events: a review. Environ Chem Lett 19:4063–4073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He, Y., Zhang, Y., Gu, Z., Features, triggering and evolution of very strong sandstorms. China Environmental Science, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.19674/j.cnki.issn1000-6923.20210425.009. (in Chinese)

  • Helmert J, Heinold B, Tegen I, Hellmuth O, Wendisch M (2007) On the direct and semidirect effects of Saharan dust over Europe: a modeling study. J Geophys Res Atmos. 112:2006JD007444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husar RB, Tratt DM, Schichtel BA, Falke SR, Li F, Jaffe D, Gasso S, Gill T, Laulainen NS, Lu F, Reheis MC, Chun Y, Westphal D et al (2001) Asian dust events of April 1998. J Geophys Res Atmos 106:18317–18330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hvidtfeldt UA, Sørensen M, Geels C, Ketzel M, Khan J, Tjønneland A, Overvad K, Brandt J, Raaschou-Nielsen O (2019) Long-term residential exposure to PM2.5, PM10, black carbon, NO2, and ozone and mortality in a Danish cohort. Environ Int 123:265–272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim NK, Park HJ, Kim YP (2009) Chemical composition change in TSP due to dust storm at Gosan, korea: do the concentrations of anthropogenic species increase due to dust storm? Water Air Soil Poll 204:165–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langner M, Kull M, Endlicher WR (2011) Determination of PM deposition based on antimony flux to selected urban surfaces. Environ Pollut 159(8–9):2028–2034

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y., 2021. Northern China hit by worst sandstorm in 10 years. Sixth Tone. https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006953/northern-china-hit-by-worst-sandstorm-in-10-years

  • Liu J, Zhu L, Wang H, Yang Y, Liu J, Qiu D, Ma W, Zhang Z, Liu J (2016) Dry deposition of particulate matter at an urban forest, wetland and lake surface in Beijing. Atmos Environ 125:178–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long X, Tie X, Li G, Cao J, Feng T, Zhao S, Xing L (2018) Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust concentrations in the North China Plain: A case study. Atmos Chem Phys 18(9):6353–6366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma CJ, Tohno S, Kasahara M, Hayakawa S (2004) The nature of individual solid particles retained in size-resolved raindrops fallen in Asian dust storm event during ACE-Asia. Atmos Environ 38:2951–2964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma MJ, Tan ZY, Chen Y, Ding F (2019) Characteristics of air quality and impact of sand and dust weather in the recent 15 years in Lanzhou City. Journal of Lanzhou University (natural Sciences) 55(01):33–41 ((in Chinese))

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng X, Gao X, Li S, Li S, Lei J (2021) Monitoring desertification in Mongolia based on Landsat images and Google Earth Engine from 1990 to 2020. Ecol Indic. 129:107908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meo SA, Almutairi FJ, Abukhalaf AA, Alessa OM, Al-Khlaiwi T, Meo AS (2021) Sandstorm and its effect on particulate matter PM2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone pollutants and SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths. Sci Total Environ. 795:148764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NCEP and NCAR, 2021. National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. ftp://arlftp.arlhq.noaa.gov/pub/archives/gdas1

  • Sanchez-Marroquin A, Arnalds O, Baustian-Dorsi KJ, Browse J, Dagsson-Waldhauserova P, Harrison AD, Maters EC, Pringle KJ, Vergara-Temprado J, Burke IT, Mcquaid JB, Carslaw KS, Murray BJ (2020) Iceland is an episodic source of atmospheric ice-nucleating particles relevant for mixed-phase clouds. Sci Adv 6:8137–8161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tartakovsky D, Stern E, Broday DM (2016) Dispersion of TSP and PM10 emissions from quarries in complex terrain. Sci Total Environ 542:946–954

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai F, Tu JY, Hsu SC, Chen WN (2014) Case study of the Asian dust and pollutant event in spring 2006: source, transport, and contribution to Taiwan. Sci Total Environ 478:163–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varga G, Dagsson-Waldhauserová P, Gresina F, Helgadottir A (2021) Saharan dust and giant quartz particle transport towards Iceland. Sci Rep 11:11891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Lv S, Diao Z, Wang B, Zhang H, Yu C (2018) Study on sandstorm PM10 exposure assessment in the large-scale region: a case study in Inner Mongolia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:17144–17155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Gui H, An L, Hua C, Zhang T, Zhang B (2021) Modeling for the source apportionments of PM10 during sand and dust storms over East Asia in 2020. Atmos Environ. 267:118768

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Zhang M, Bai X, Tan H, Li S, Liu J, Zhang R, Wolters MA, Qin X, Zhang M, Lin H, Li., Y., Li., J., Chen, L. (2017) Large-scale transport of PM2.5 in the lower troposphere during winter cold surges in China. Sci Rep. 7(1):13238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YQ, Zhang XY, Draxler RR (2009) TrajStat: GIS-based software that uses various trajectory statistical analysis methods to identify potential sources from long-term air pollution measurement data. Environ Model Softw 24(8):938–939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Zhang H, Chen J, Li Q, Wang X, Wang W, Zhang Q, Xue L, Ding A, Mellouki A (2018) Six sources mainly contributing to the haze episodes and health risk assessment of PM2.5 at Beijing suburb in winter 2016. Ecotox Environ Safe 166:146–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Zhang W, Zhu C, Li J, Wang J, Li P, Zhao P (2021) Health risk and external costs assessment of PM2.5 in Beijing during the “Five-year Clean Air Action Plan.” Atmos Pollut Res. 12(6):101089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Zhang W, Zhu C, Li J, Yuan W, Lv J (2021) Regional sources and the economic cost assessment of PM2.5 in Ji’nan, eastern China. Atmos Pollut Res. 12(2):386–394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Fang Z, Cao Y, Xie C, Zhou T, Wang B, Xing K, Lolli S (2021) Impacts of transboundary dust transport on aerosol pollution in the western Yangtze River delta region, China: insights gained from ground-based lidar and satellite observations. Earth Space Sci. 8(3):e2020EA001533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Zhao TL, Cheng XG, Ren ZH, Meng L, He Q, Tan CH, Zhu Y, Zhu CZ, Wu ZY (2021b) Temporal and spatial variations of sandstorm and the related meteorological influences over northern China from 2000 to 2019. Acta Sci Circum 41(8):2966–2975 ((in Chinese))

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu H, Yang W, Wang X, Yin B, Zhang X, Wang J, Gu C, Ming J, Geng C, Bai Z (2019) A seriously sand storm mixed air-polluted area in the margin of Tarim Basin: temporal-spatial distribution and potential sources. Sci Total Environ 676:436–446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XY, Wang YQ, Niu T, Zhang XC, Gong SL, Zhang YM, Sun JY (2012) Atmospheric aerosol compositions in China: spatial/temporal variability, chemical signature, regional haze distribution and comparisons with global aerosols. Atmos Chem Phys 12:779–799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao W, Hu G, Zhang Z, He Z (2008) Shielding effect of oasis-protection systems composed of various forms of wind break on sand fixation in an arid region: a case study in the Hexi Corridor, northwest China. Ecol Eng 33(2):119–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou H, He J, Zhao B, Zhang L, Fan Q, Lü C, Dudagula S, Liu T, Yuan Y (2016) The distribution of PM10 and PM2.5 carbonaceous aerosol in Baotou. China. Atmos Res. 178–179:102–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was funded by Opening Project of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3) (No. FDLAP21001); the Talent Promotion Project of Heze Branch of Shandong Academy of Sciences; and the Foundation (No. 242007020234) of State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heze Branch, Biological Engineering Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Heze, 274000, China

    Xianmang Xu, Peiyu Zhao, Yanchao Yin, Wei Cheng, Jin Wang, Peichuang Li, Yusheng Liu, Juan Dai & Wenpeng Yuan

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China

    Xianmang Xu

Authors
  1. Xianmang Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peiyu Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanchao Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wei Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Peichuang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yusheng Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Juan Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Wenpeng Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Xianmang Xu: conceptualization, methodology, writing — original draft, writing — review and editing. Peiyu Zhao and Yanchao Yin: validation, formal analysis, writing — review and editing. Jin Wang and Peichuang Li: validation, data curation. Yusheng Liu and Juan Dai: validation, investigation. Wei Cheng: supervision. Wenpeng Yuan: supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xianmang Xu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xu, X., Zhao, P., Yin, Y. et al. Dust particles transport during the rare strong sandstorm process in Northern China in early year 2021. Air Qual Atmos Health 15, 929–936 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01159-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01159-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation