Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of long-range desert dust transport on hydrometeor formation over coastal East Asia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Model simulations and hydrological reanalysis data for 2007 are applied to investigate the impact of long-range desert dust transport on hydrometeor formation over coastal East Asia. Results are analyzed from Hong Kong and Shanghai, which are two representative coastal cities of East Asia. Long-range desert dust transport impacts mainly spring and summer clouds and precipitation over coastal East Asia. In spring, clouds and precipitation come mainly from large-scale condensation and are impacted mainly by dust from the Gobi, Sahara, and Thar deserts. These desert dusts can participate in the precipitation within and below the clouds. At lower latitudes, the dust particles act mainly as water nuclei. At higher latitudes, they act as both water nuclei and ice nuclei. The effect of Gobi, Sahara, and Thar dust on large-scale clouds and precipitation becomes stronger at higher latitudes. In summer, clouds and precipitation over coastal East Asia come mainly from convection and are impacted mainly by dust from the Taklamakan, Arabian, and Karakum-Kavir deserts. Most Taklamakan dust particles can participate in precipitation within convective clouds as ice nuclei, while Arabian and Karakum-Kavir dust particles participate only as water nuclei in precipitation below the clouds. The effect of Taklamakan dust on convective clouds and precipitation becomes stronger at lower latitudes. Of all the desert dusts, that from the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts has the relatively largest impact. Gobi dust impacts climate change in coastal East Asia by affecting spring water clouds at higher latitudes.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, D. J., P. Kasibhatla, A. M. Thompson, R. B. Rood, B. G. Doddridge, K. E. Pickering, R. D. Hudson, and S. J. Lin, 1996: Transport-induced interannual variability of carbon monoxide determined using a chemistry and transport model. J. Geophys. Res., 101, 28655–28669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balkanski, Y. J., D. J. Jacob, G. M. Gardner, W. C. Graustein, and K. K. Turekian, 1993: Transport and residence times of tropospheric aerosols inferred from a global three-dimensional simulation of 210Ph. J. Geophys. Res., 98, 20573–20586.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chin, M., R. B. Rood, S. J. Lin, J. F. Mller, and A. M. Thompson, 2000: Atmospheric sulfur cycle simulated in the global model GOCART: Model description and global properties. J. Geophys. Res., 105(D20), 24671–24687, doi: 10.1029/2000 JD900384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chin, M., and Coauthors, 2002: Tropospheric aerosol optical thickness from the GOCART model and comparisons with satellite and sun photometer measurements. J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 461–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chin, M., T. Diehl, P. Ginoux, and W. Malm, 2007: Intercontinental transport of pollution and dust aerosols: Implications for regional air quality. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 7, 5501–5517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeMott, P. J., K. Sassen, M. R. Poellot, D. Baumgardner, D. C. Rogers, S. D. Brooks, A. J. Prenni, S. M. Kreidenweis, 2003: African dust aerosols as atmospheric ice nuclei. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(14), 1732, doi: 10.1029/2003GL017410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diner, D. J., and Coauthors, 1998: Multi-angle imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MISR) instrument description and experiment overview. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 36, 1072–1087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillette, D. A., and R. Passi, 1988: Modeling dust emission caused by wind erosion. J. Geophys. Res., 93, 14 233–14 242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginoux, P., M. Chin, I. Tegen, J. M. Prospero, B. Holben, O. Dubovik, and S. J. Lin, 2001: Sources and distributions of dust aerosols simulated with the GOCART model. J. Geophys. Res., 106(D17), 20255–20273, doi: 10.1029/2000JD 000053.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi, F., and W. L. Chameides, 1986: Rainout lifetimes of highly soluble aerosols and gases as inferred from simulations with a general circulation model. J. Geophys. Res., 91, 14 367–14 376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haywood, J., and O. Boucher, 2000: Estimates of the direct and indirect radiative forcing due to tropospheric aerosols: a review. Rev. Geophys., 38(4), 513–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J. P., B. Lin, P. Minnis, T. H. Wang, X. Wang, Y. X. Hu, Y. H. Yi, and J. R. Ayers, 2006a: Satellite-based assessment of possible dust aerosols semi-direct effect on cloud water path over East Asia. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, doi: 10.1029/2006 GL026561.

  • Huang, J. P., P. Minnis, B. Lin, T. H. Wang, Y. H. Yi, Y. X. Hu, S. Sun-Mack, and K. Ayers, 2006b: Possible influences of Asian dust aerosols on cloud properties and radiative forcing observed from MODIS and CERES. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L06824, doi: 10.1029/2005GL024724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J. F., C. D. Zhang, and J. M. Prospero, 2010a: African dust outbreaks: A satellite perspective of temporal and spatial variability over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D05202, doi: 10.1029/2009JD012516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J., P. Minnis, H. Yan, Y. Yi, B. Chen, L. Zhang, and J. K. Ayers, 2010b: Dust aerosol effect on semi-arid climate over Northwest China detected from A-Train satellite measurements. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics}}, 10, 6863–6872, doi: 10.5194/acp-10-6863-2010.

  • Hung, H.-M., A. Malinowski, and S. T. Martin, 2003: Kinetics of heterogeneous ice nucleation on the surfaces of mineral dust cores inserted into aqueous ammonium sulfate particles. J. Phys. Chem. A, 107, 1296–1306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isono, K., M. Komabayasi, and A. Ono, 1959: The nature and origin of ice nuclei in the atmosphere. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 37, 211–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, Y. J., I. Koren, L. A. Remer, D. Tanré, P. Ginoux, and S. Fan, 2005: Dust transport and deposition observed from the Terra-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) spacecraft over the Atlantic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 110(D10), doi: 10.1029/2003JD004436.

  • Kopke, P., M. Hess, I. Schult, and E. P. Shettle, 1997: Global aerosol data set. MPI Meteorologie Hamburg Report No.243, 44 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. C., X. Yang, and M. Wenig, 2010: Transport of dusts from East Asian and non-East Asian sources to Hong Kong during dust storm related events 1996-2007. Atmos. Environ., 44(30), 3728–3738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. C., M. Wenig, Z. X. Zhang, N. Sugimoto, D. Larko, and T. Diehl, 2011: Dust episodes in Hong Kong (South China) and their relationship with the Sharav and Mongolian cyclones and jet streams. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 5(4), 413–424, doi: 10.1007/s11869-011-0134-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levi, Y., and D. Rosenfeld, 1996: Ice nuclei, rainwater chemical composition, and static cloud seeding effects in Israel. J. Appl. Meteor., 35, 1494–1501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, Z., E. Ganor, and V. Gladstein, 1996: The effects of desert particles coated with sulfate on rain formation in the eastern Mediterranean. J. Appl. Meteor., 35, 1511–1523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Y. Sato, R. Jia, Y. Xie, J. Huang, and T. Nakajima, 2015: Modeling study on the transport of summer dust and anthropogenic aerosols over the Tibetan Plateau. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 15, 12581–12594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martonchik, J. V., D. J. Diner, R. A. Kahn, T. P. Ackerman, M. M. Verstraete, B. Pinty, and H. R. Gordon, 1998: Techniques for the retrieval of aerosol properties over land and ocean using multiangle imaging. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 36, 1212–1227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, K. D., T. A. Cahill, R. A. Eldred, D. D. Dutcher, and T. E. Gill, 1997: Long-range transport of North African dust to the eastern United States. J. Geophys. Res., 102(D10), 11225–11238, doi: 10.1029/97JD00260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., 1999a: Long-range transport of mineral dust in the global atmosphere: Impact of African dust on the environment of the southeastern United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 96, 3396–3403, doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.3396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., 1999b: Long-term measurements of the transport of African mineral dust to the southeastern United States: Implications for regional air quality. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 15917–15927, doi: 10.1029/1999JD900072.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., and J. P. Lamb, 2003: African droughts and dust transport to the Caribbean: Climate change implications. Science, 302, 1024–1027, doi: 10.1126/science.1089915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rienecker, M. M., and Coauthors, 2008: The GEOS-5 data assimilation system—Documentation of versions 5.0.1, 5.1.0, and 5.2.0. Technical Rep. Series on Global Modeling and Data Assimilation. NASA Tech. Rep. 104606, Vol. 27, 101 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rienecker, M. M., and Coauthors, 2011: MERRA: NASA’s modern-era retrospective analysis for research and applications. J. Climate, 24(14), 3624–3648, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00015.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, P., and J. Hallett, 1968: A laboratory study of the ice nucleating properties of some mineral particulates. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 94, 25–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, D., 1999: TRMM observed first direct evidence of smoke from forest fires inhibiting rainfall. Geophys. Res. Lett., 26(20), 3105–3108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, D., 2000: Suppression of rain and snow by urban and industrial air pollution. Science, 287(5459), 1793–1796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, D., and R. Nirel, 1996: Seeding effectiveness—The interaction of desert dust and the southern margins of rain cloud systems in Israel. J. Appl. Meteor., 35, 1502–1510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, D., and W. L. Woodley, 2000: Deep convective clouds with sustained super-cooled liquid water down to -37.5C. Nature, 405(6785), 440–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, D., Y. Rudich, and R. Lahav, 2001: Desert dust suppressing precipitation: a possible desertification feedback loop. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 98(11), 5975–5980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, D., R. Lahav, A. Khain, and M. Pinsky, 2002: The role of sea spray in cleansing air pollution over ocean via cloud processes. Science, 297, 1667–1670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer, V. J., 1949: The formation of ice crystals in the laboratory and the atmosphere. Chemical Reviews, 44, 291–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer, V. J., 1954: The concentrations of ice nuclei in air passing the summit of Mt. Washington. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 35, 310–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, S. D., R. B. Rood, and J. Pfaendtner, 1993: An assimilated dataset for earth science applications. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 74(12), 2331–2342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takemura, T., I. Uno, T. Nakajima, A. Higurashi, and I. Sano, 2002: Modeling study of long-range transport of Asian dust and anthropogenic aerosols from East Asia. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 11-1–11-4, doi: 10.1029/2002GL016251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takemura, T., T. Nozawa, S. Emori, T. Y. Nakajima, and T. Nakajima, 2005: Simulation of climate response to aerosol direct and indirect effects with aerosol transport-radiation model. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D02202, doi: 10.1029/2004JD005029.

  • Torres, O., P. K. Bhartia, J. R. Herman, A. Sinyuk, P. Ginoux, and B. Holben, 2002: A long-term record of aerosol optical depth from TOMS observations and comparison to AERONET measurements. J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 398–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres, O., A. Tanskanen, B. Veihelmann, C. Ahn, R. Braak, P. K. Bhartia, P. Veefkind, and P. Levelt, 2007: Aerosols and surface UV products from Ozone Monitoring Instrument observations: An overview. J. Geophys. Res., 112, D24S47, doi: 10.1029/2007JD008809.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Heever, S. C., G. G. Carrió, W. R. Cotton, P. J. DeMott, and A. J. Prenni, 2006: Impacts of nucleating aerosol on Florida storms. Part I: Mesoscale simulations. J. Atmos. Sci., 63(7), 1752–1775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, T. H., and J. P. Huang, 2009: A method for estimating optical properties of dusty cloud. Chinese Optics Letters, 7(5), 368–372, doi: 10.3788/COL20090705.0368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warner, J., 1968: A reduction in rainfall associated with smoke from sugar-cane fires—An inadvertent weather modification?. J. Appl. Meteor., 7(2), 247–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winker, D. M., W. H. Hunt, and M. J. McGill, 2007: Initial performance assessment of CALIOP. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L19803, doi: 10.1029/2007GL030135.

  • Yu, H. B., M. Chin, D. M. Winker, A. H. Omar, Z. Y. Liu, C. Kittaka, and T. Diehl, 2010: Global view of aerosol vertical distributions from CALIPSO lidar measurements and GOCART simulations: Regional and seasonal variations. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D00H30, doi: 10.1029/2009JD013364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, H. B., L. A. Remer, R. A. Kahn, M. Chin, and Y. Zhang, 2013: Satellite perspective of aerosol intercontinental transport: From qualitative tracking to quantitative characterization. Atmospheric Research, 124, 73–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z. X., M. Wenig, W. Zhou, T. Diehl, K.-L. Chan, and L. N. Wang, 2014: The contribution of different aerosol sources to the Aerosol Optical Depth in Hong Kong. Atmos. Environ., 83, 145–154, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.10.047.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuberi, B., A. K. Bertram, C. A. Cassa, L. T. Molina, and M. J. Molina, 2002: Heterogeneous nucleation of ice in (NH4)2SO4-H2O particles with mineral dust immersions. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29, 142-1–142-4, doi: 10.1029/2001GL 014289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11362012) and the Natural Science Foundation at the Inner Mongolia University of Technology (Grant No. X201310).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Fluid Dynamics, School of Mathematic Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China

    Zhenxi Zhang & Liangui Yang

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, 010010, China

    Zhenxi Zhang

  3. School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China

    Wen Zhou

  4. Meteorologisches Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, 80539, Germany

    Mark Wenig

Authors
  1. Zhenxi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wen Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mark Wenig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Liangui Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liangui Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Z., Zhou, W., Wenig, M. et al. Impact of long-range desert dust transport on hydrometeor formation over coastal East Asia. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 34, 101–115 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-016-6157-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-016-6157-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation