Modern dust storms in China: an overview

Abstract This paper discusses the sources, spatial distribution, frequency and trend of dust storms in China. Most dust storms in China originate from one of three geographic areas: the Hexi (River West) Corridor and western Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Taklimakan Desert, and the central Inner Mongolia Plateau. Dust is most likely from deteriorated grasslands, Gobi, alluvial, lacustrine sediments and wadis at the outer edge of deserts. But deserts themselves contribute only slightly to the dust storm directly. Two geographic areas frequently have dust storms: one is in the western Tarim Basin, a ground surface of deteriorated land and wadi, but it only affects its neighboring areas, and the other one is in the western Inner Mongolia Plateau, a ground surface of Gobi, alluvial and lacustrine sediments, but it causes most of the dust storms in north China. Generally speaking, dust storms have reduced in most regions of China from the 1950 to 2000. Dust storms are highly correlated with human activities and climate changes.

[1]  Q. Lin.  Temporal-Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Causes of Dust-day in China , 2001 .

[2]  Jimin Sun,et al.  Spatial and temporal characteristics of dust storms in China and its surrounding regions, 1960-1999 : Relations to source area and climate , 2001 .

[3]  Jimin Sun,et al.  Sources of heavy dust fall in Beijing, China on April 16, 1998 , 2000 .

[4]  R. Arimoto,et al.  Concentration, size-distribution and deposition of mineral aerosol over Chinese desert regions , 1998 .

[5]  Ji Xing.  The Preventing and Controlling Measures for Sandstorm in Hexi Corridor According to Wind-sand Transporting Law , 2001 .

[6]  Qiu Xin,et al.  Temporal-spatial Distribution as well as Tracks and Source Areas of Sand-Dust Storms in China , 2001 .

[7]  Li Dong-liang.  Situation of Sand-dust Storms and Countermeasures in North China , 2001 .

[8]  Weihong Qian,et al.  Variations of the Dust Storm in China and its Climatic Control , 2002 .

[9]  A. Zhisheng,et al.  Elemental tracers for Chinese source dust , 1996 .

[10]  Richard Arimoto,et al.  Dust emission from Chinese desert sources linked to variations in atmospheric circulation , 1997 .

[11]  K. Pye.  Aeolian dust and dust deposits , 1987 .

[12]  Hui Yuan,et al.  The compositions, sources, and size distribution of the dust storm from China in spring of 2000 and its impact on the global environment , 2001 .

[13]  Jie Xuan,et al.  Dust emission inventory in Northern China , 2000 .

[14]  Xingmin Meng,et al.  Provenance, transport and characteristics of modern aeolian dust in western Gansu Province, China, and interpretation of the Quaternary loess record , 1998 .

[15]  Z. Li,et al.  Gobi dust storms and The Great Green Wall , 1994 .

[16]  K. Pye,et al.  The mechanics and geological implications of dust transport and deposition in deserts with particular reference to loess formation and dune sand diagenesis in the northern Negev, Israel , 1987, Geological Society, London, Special Publications.