Abstract
Three major sequential widespread dust events were experienced in the northern parts of India in May 2018. A significant impact of these pre-monsoon dust storms on the aerosol characteristics over the Indian National capital region (NCR) has been studied using remotely sensed ceilometer and ground-based measurements at Indira Gandhi International airport, New Delhi, India. The results show that after each dust activity, the significant inclusion of dust aerosols loaded in the free troposphere. Consequently, the direct impact on the lower atmospheric parameters like increase in daily average temperature (by 4–5 K), stepped up (stepped down) diurnal cycles of longwave fluxes (shortwave fluxes), has been recorded within 15 days of dust span. Mainly, the adverse meteorological and radiation features noticed before the first dust storm (DS1), which pinpoints the sudden dust intrusion over NCR, Delhi. However, this dust storm has extensively impacted on the atmospheric vertical dust loading, surface boundary layer mechanisms, and socioeconomic way. Therefore, the detailed analysis of vertical dust distribution and its interaction with mid-tropospheric processes has been carried by using the vertical normalized attenuated backscatter coefficients accompanying the radiosonde observation. The aloft floating dust layer up to 3–4 km has been noticed even after shallow rainfall and persisted at almost the same height for the next 34 h due to low-level clouds. Meanwhile, the sub-dust layer below 1 km is formed due to local activity, which also sustains for a long time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albrecht BA (1989) Aerosols, cloud microphysics, and fractional cloudiness. Science 245(4923):1227. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.245.4923.1227
Badarinath KVS, Kharol SK, Kaskaoutis DG, Sharma AR, Ramaswamy V, Kambezidis HD (2010) Long-range transport of dust aerosols over the Arabian Sea and Indian region - a case study using satellite data and ground-based measurements. Global Planet Change. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2010.02.003
Blanco-Canqui H, Lal R (2010) Principles of soil conservation and management. Princ Soil Conserv Manag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8709-7
Boesenberg J, Matthias V, Amodeo A, Amoiridis V, Ansmann A, Baldasano JM, Balin IDB, Böckmann C, Boselli A, Carlsson G, Chaikovsky A, Chourdakis G, Comeron A, De Tomasi F, Eixmann R, Freudenthaler V, Giehl, H., Grigorov I, Zerefos C (2003) EARLINET: a European Aerosol Research Lidar Network to Establish an Aerosol Climatology. Max-Planck-Institute Report.
Bösenberg J, Hoff RM (2007) Plan for the implementation of the GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network (GALION). World Meteorological Organization Rep. 178 (Issue 178). https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=9387
Dey S, Tripathi SN, Singh RP, Holben BN (2004) Influence of dust storms on the aerosol optical properties over the Indo-Gangetic basin. J Geophys Res D: Atmos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD004924
Dhangar NG, Lal DM, Ghude SD (2021) On the conditions for onset and development of fog over New Delhi: an observational study from the WiFEX. Pure Appl Geophys. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02800-4
El-Askary H, Gautam R, Singh RP, Kafatos M (2006) Dust storms detection over the Indo-Gangetic basin using multi sensor data. Adv Space Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2005.03.134
Gautam R, Liu Z, Singh RP, Hsu NC (2009) Two contrasting dust-dominant periods over India observed from MODIS and CALIPSO data. Geophys Res Lett. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL036967
Gharai B, Jose S, Mahalakshmi DV (2013) Monitoring intense dust storms over the Indian region using satellite data - a case study. Int J Remote Sens. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2013.813655
Ghude SD, Bhat GS, Prabhakaran T, Jenamani RK, Chate DM, Safai PD, Karipot AK, Konwar M, Pithani P, Sinha V, Rao PSP, Dixit SA, Tiwari S, Todekar K, Varpe S, Srivastava AK, Bisht DS, Murugavel P, Ali K, Rajeevan M (2017) Winter fog experiment over the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Current Sci 112:767
Ginoux P, Prospero JM, Gill TE, Hsu NC, Zhao M (2012) Global-scale attribution of anthropogenic and natural dust sources and their emission rates based on MODIS Deep Blue aerosol products. Rev Geophys. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012RG000388
Goudie AS, Middleton NJ (2006) Desert dust in the global system. Desert Dust Global Syst. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-32355-4
Hara Y, Yumimoto K, Uno I, Shimizu A, Sugimoto N, Liu Z, Winker M (2009) Asian dust outflow in the PBL and free atmosphere retrieved by NASA CALIPSO and an assimilated dust transport model. Atmos Chem Phys. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-9-1227-2009
Husar RB, Tratt DM, Schichtel BA, Falke SR, Li F, Jaffe D, Gassó S, Gill T, Laulainen NS, Lu F, Reheis MC, Chun Y, Westphal D, Holben BN, Gueymard C, McKendry I, Kuring N, Feldman GC, McClain C, Malm WC (2001) Asian dust events of April 1998. J Geophys Res Atmos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD900788
Illingworth AJ, Hogan RJ, O’Connor EJ, Bouniol D, Brooks ME, Delanoë J, Donovan DP, Eastment JD, Gaussiat N, Goddard JWF, Haeffelin M, Klein Baltinik H, Krasnov OA, Pelon J, Piriou JM, Protat A, Russchenberg HWJ, Seifert A, Tompkins AM, Wrench CL (2007) Cloudnet: continuous evaluation of cloud profiles in seven operational models using ground-based observations. Bull Am Meteor Soc 88(6):883–898. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-88-6-883
Jugder D, Shinoda M, Kimura R, Batbold A, Amarjargal D (2014) Quantitative analysis on windblown dust concentrations of PM10 (PM2.5) during dust events in Mongolia. Aeolian Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2014.04.005
Kaskaoutis DG, Kosmopoulos PG, Nastos PT, Kambezidis HD, Sharma M, Mehdi W (2012) Transport pathways of Sahara dust over Athens, Greece as detected by MODIS and TOMS. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2011.574296
Kawai K, Kai K, Jin Y, Sugimoto N, Batdorj D (2018) Lidar network observation of dust layer development over the gobi desert in association with a cold frontal system on 22–23 May 2013. J Meteorol Soc Jpn. https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2018-023
Kawai K, Nishio Y, Kai K, Noda J, Munkhjargal E, Shinoda M, Sugimoto N, Shimizu A, Davaanyam E, Batdorj D (2019) Ceilometer observation of a dust event in the Gobi Desert on 29–30 April 2015: sudden arrival of a developed dust storm and trapping of dust within an inversion layer. Sci Online Lett Atmos. https://doi.org/10.2151/SOLA.2019-011
Kayetha VK, Senthilkumar J, Prasad AK, Cervone G, Singh RP (2007) Effect of dust storm on ocean color and snow parameters. J Indian Soc Remote Sens. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02991828
Kedia S, Ramachandran S (2011) Seasonal variations in aerosol characteristics over an urban location and a remote site in western India. Atmos Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.01.040
Kohfeld KE, Harrison SP (2001) DIRTMAP: the geological record of dust. Earth Sci Rev. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-8252(01)00042-3
Kumar S, Kumar S, Kaskaoutis DG, Singh RP, Singh RK, Mishra AK, Srivastava MK, Singh AK (2015) Meteorological, atmospheric and climatic perturbations during major dust storms over Indo-Gangetic Basin. Aeol Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2015.01.006
Mahowald NM, Kloster S, Engelstaedter S, Moore JK, Mukhopadhyay S, McConnell JR, Albani S, Doney SC, Bhattacharya A, Curran MAJ, Flanner MG, Hoffman FM, Lawrence DM, Lindsay K, Mayewski PA, Neff J, Rothenberg D, Thomas E, Thornton PE, Zender CS (2010) Observed 20th century desert dust variability: impact on climateand biogeochemistry. Atmos Chem Phys. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-10875-2010
McGowan HA, Soderholm J (2012) Laser ceilometer measurements of Australian dust storm highlight need for reassessment of atmospheric dust plume loads. Geophys Res Lett. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050319
Middleton NJ (2017) Desert dust hazards: a global review. Aeolian Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2016.12.001
Miller RL, Tegen I, Perlwitz J (2004) Surface radiative forcing by soil dust aerosols and the hydrologic cycle. J Geophys Res Atmos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003jd004085
Miri A, Ahmadi H, Ekhtesasi MR, Panjehkeh N, Ghanbari A (2009) Environmental and socio-economic impacts of dust storms in Sistan Region Iran. Int J Environ Stud. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207230902720170
Mona L, Liu Z, Müller D, Omar A, Papayannis A, Pappalardo G, Sugimoto N, Vaughan M (2012) Lidar measurements for desert dust characterization: an overview. Adv Meteorol. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/356265
Münkel C, Eresmaa N, Räsänen J, Karppinen A (2007) Retrieval of mixing height and dust concentration with lidar ceilometer. Bound-Layer Meteorol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-006-9103-3
Murayama T, Sugimoto N, Uno I, Kinoshita K, Aoki K, Hagiwara N, Liu Z, Matsui I, Sakai T, Shibata T, Arao K, Sohn BJ, Won JG, Yoon SC, Li T, Zhou J, Hu H, Abo M, Iokibe K, Iwasaka Y (2001) Ground-based network observation of Asian dust events of April 1998 in east Asia. J Geophys Res Atmos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD900554
Nemuc A, Stachlewska IS, Vasilescu J, Górska A, Nicolae D, Talianu C (2014) Optical properties of long-range transported volcanic ash over Romania and Poland during Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010. Acta Geophys. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-013-0180-7
Pai DS, Nair SA, Ramanathan AN (2013) Long term climatology and trends of heat waves over India during the recent 50 years (1961–2010). Mausam 64(4)
Pandey SK, Vinoj V, Landu K, Babu SS (2017) Declining pre-monsoon dust loading over South Asia: signature of a changing regional climate. Sci Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16338-w
Pandithurai G, Dipu S, Dani KK, Tiwari S, Bisht DS, Devara PCS, Pinker RT (2008) Aerosol radiative forcing during dust events over New Delhi India. J Geophys Res Atmos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD009804
Parde AN, Ghude SD, Pithani P, Dhangar NG, Nivdange S, Krishna G, Lal DM, Jenamani R, Singh P, Jena C, Karumuri R, Safai PD, Chate DM (2019) Estimation of surface particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) mass concentration from the ceilometer backscattered profiles. Aerosol Air Qual Res. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2019.08.0371
Patil MN, Patil SD, Waghmare RT, Dharmaraj T (2013) Planetary Boundary Layer height over the Indian subcontinent during extreme monsoon years. J Atmos Solar Terr Phys. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2012.10.011
Prasad AK, Singh R (2007a) Changes in Himalayan snow and glacier cover between 1972 and 2000. Eos 88(33):326. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007EO330002
Prasad AK, Singh RP (2007b) Changes in aerosol parameters during major dust storm events (2001–2005) over the Indo-Gangetic Plains using AERONET and MODIS data. J Geophys Res Atmospheres. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD007778
Prospero JM, Ginoux P, Torres O, Nicholson SE, Gill TE (2002) Environmental characterization of global sources of atmospheric soil dust identified with the Nimbus 7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) absorbing aerosol product. Rev Geophys. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000RG000095
Ramanathan V, Crutzen PJ, Kiehl JT, Rosenfeld D (2001) Atmosphere: aerosols, climate, and the hydrological cycle. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1064034
Sarkar S, Chauhan A, Kumar R, Singh RP (2019) Impact of deadly dust storms (May 2018) on air quality, meteorological, and atmospheric parameters over the Northern Parts of India. GeoHealth. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018gh000170
Sikka DR (1997) Desert climate and its dynamics. Curr Sci 72(1):35–46. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24098628
Sivaprasad P, Babu CA, Samah AA, Jayakrishnan PR (2017) An analysis on the dust aerosol climatology over the major dust sources in the northern hemisphere. Arab J Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3191-x
Stull RB (1988) An introduction to boundary layer meteorology. Int Bound Layer Meteorol. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3027-8
Twomey S (1977) The influence of pollution on the shortwave albedo of clouds. J Atmos Sci 34(7):1149–1152
UNEP, WMO, UNCCD (2016) Global assessment of sand and dust storms. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi. https://wesr.unep.org/redesign/media/docs/assessments/global_assessment_of_sand_and_dust_storms.pdf
Uno I, Eguchi K, Yumimoto K, Takemura T, Shimizu A, Uematsu M, Liu Z, Wang Z, Hara Y, Sugimoto N (2009) Asian dust transported one full circuit around theglobe. Nat Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo583
Verma S, Payra S, Gautam R, Prakash D, Soni M, Holben B, Bell S (2013) Dust events and their influence on aerosol optical properties over Jaipur in Northwestern India. Environ Monit Assess. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3103-9
Wang H, Shi GY, Zhu J, Chen B, Che HZ, Zhao TL (2013) Case study of longwave contribution to dust radiative effects over East Asia. Chin Sci Bull 58(30):3673–3681
Welton EJ, Campbell JR, Spinhirne JD, Scott VS III (2001) Global monitoring of clouds and aerosols using a network of micropulse lidar systems. Lidar Remote Sens Ind Environ Monitor 4153:151. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.417040
World Health Organization (2013) Review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution – REVIHAAP project: technical report. World Health Organ. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379640
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Director, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Director General India Meteorological Department (IMD) for their encouragement and support during the study. The radiosonde profiles data were obtained from the University of Wyoming website (http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html). The authors also acknowledge the Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao (GMR) group and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for their logistic support at IGI Airport New Delhi.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest to this work. We declare that we do not have any commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Parde, A.N., Dhangar, N.G., Nivdange, S. et al. The analysis of pre-monsoon dust storm over Delhi using ground-based observations. Nat Hazards 112, 829–844 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05207-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05207-z