Aerosol Characteristics of Dust Weather on North Slope of the Qilian Mountains

Xi Lizong; Ba Li; Pang Zhaoyun; Li Baozi; Huang Shan

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20240305

Vol.35, NO.3, 2024

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Applied Meteorological Science > 2024 > 35(3): 311-322

Xi Lizong, Ba Li, Pang Zhaoyun, et al. Aerosol characteristics of dust weather on north slope of the Qilian Mountains. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(3): 311-322. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240305.

Citation:

Xi Lizong, Ba Li, Pang Zhaoyun, et al. Aerosol characteristics of dust weather on north slope of the Qilian Mountains. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(3): 311-322. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240305.

Xi Lizong, Ba Li, Pang Zhaoyun, et al. Aerosol characteristics of dust weather on north slope of the Qilian Mountains. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(3): 311-322. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240305.

Citation:

Xi Lizong, Ba Li, Pang Zhaoyun, et al. Aerosol characteristics of dust weather on north slope of the Qilian Mountains. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(3): 311-322. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240305.

PDF( 2970 KB)

Aerosol Characteristics of Dust Weather on North Slope of the Qilian Mountains

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240305

Gansu Weather Modification Office, Lanzhou 730020

Received Date: 2024-03-05
Rev Recd Date: 2024-04-08
Publish Date: 2024-05-31

Abstract

Abstract

Understanding the vertical distribution characteristics of aerosols in dust weather is crucial for further discussion of aerosol-cloud interaction and its impacts on weather and climate. In response to a dust storm in Northwest China on 6 September 2023, Gansu Weather Modification Office conducts aircraft detection and operational flights on north slope of the Qilian Mountains, obtaining the vertical detection data of aerosols. The vertical distribution of aerosols in dust weather is analyzed, and causes of vertical distribution of dust aerosols, related meteorological factors and air mass sources are studied. Results show that the dust weather is formed under the combined action of the upper front area and the surface cold high pressure. Affected by the dust weather, the peak mass concentration of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 reaches 1150 μg·m^-3 and 282 μg·m^-3, respectively, at Wuwei Environmental Monitoring Station on north slope of the Qilian Mountains. Under the influence of dust weather, aerosol particles across all size segment show an increase in number concentration and particle size. Most of the dust particles are 1.2-1.8 μm and 6.5-16.6 μm in size, and there is a large concentration of aerosol particle number at the height of 4000-4500 m and 3000-4000 m. In addition, compared with the average concentration of particles in the fine particle segment and the coarse particle segment, the average concentration of particles increases by 2 times and 3.5 times, respectively. The average particle size increases by 3 times and 1.5 times, respectively. After the transit of sand and dust, the spectrum width widens, and the high-value region of the number concentration shows an overhanging state. In the coarse particle segment, the distribution of aerosol particle spectra changes from bimodal to trimodal. The increase in aerosol particle number concentration is more pronounced in the coarse particle segment and the lower layer. At the altitude of 500-2000 m above the ground, aerosol particles mainly come from the Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang, while at the altitude of 2000-3000 m, aerosol particles mainly come from the Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia. In addition, the vertical upward movement in the middle layer and the strong northwest wind speed in the lower layer may play an important role in the vertical and spectral distribution of aerosols. Various sources and transport layers of aerosols, along with the vertical distribution evolution of meteorological elements, play an important role in the vertical distribution and spectral distribution of aerosols.
- dust aerosol;
- aircraft observation;
- north slope of the Qilian Mountains;
- vertical distribution

FullText(HTML)

References(37)

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1 Ground mapping on 6 Sep 2023 (the number denotes visibility(unit: km), the barb denotes ground wind, the shaded denotes dust area, the red circle denotes Zhongchuan Airport)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 2 Flight path and flight area of aircraft on 6 Sep 2023

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 3 Aerosol number concentration and cloud droplet number concentration for the whole period of flight observation

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 4 500 hPa geopotential height (the black line, unit: dagpm), temperature (the red line, unit: ℃), wind field (the barb), wind speed (the shaded) (a) and ground isobar (the black line, unit: hPa), wind field (the barb), wind speed (the shaded) (b) at 2000 BT 6 Sep 2023 (+ denotes Zhongchuan Airport)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 5 Vertical distribution of aerosol particle number concentration and effective diameter detected by PCASP and FCDP for ascending and descending tracks of aircraft on 6 Sep 2023

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 6 Vertical distribution of aerosol particle number concentration spectra detected by PCASP and FCDP probes for ascending and descending tracks of aircraft on 6 Sep 2023

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 7 Mean aerosol spectral distribution at different altitudes on 6 Sep 2023

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 8 Backward tracks of air mass in 48 h at different altitudes on 6 Sep 2023

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 9 Vertical profile of wind speed (the shaded), horizontal wind field (the barb), vertical velocity (the dashed line, unit: Pa·s^-1, the positive value denotes rising) from 0800 BT to 2300 BT on 6 Sep 2023

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Table 1 Detection equipment information of MA60 aircraft

探头名称	分档数量	测量范围	探测粒子类型
PCASP	30	0.1~3 μm	气溶胶
FCDP	20	1~50 μm	霾、云滴
AIMMS			温度、气压、湿度、风、经纬度

DownLoad: Download CSV

References

[1]	Fan J W, Wang Y, Rosenfeld D, et al. Review of aerosol-cloud interactions: Mechanisms, significance, and challenges. J Atmos Sci, 2016, 73(11): 4221-4252. doi: 10.1175/JAS-D-16-0037.1
[2]	Li Z Q. Impact of aerosols on the weather, climate and environment of China: An overview. Trans Atmos Sci, 2020, 43(1): 76-92. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-NJQX202001009.htm
[3]	Mascioli N R, Evan A T, Ralph F M. Influence of dust on precipitation during landfalling atmospheric rivers in an idealized framework. J Geophys Res Atmos, 2021, 126(22). DOI: 10.1029/2021/JD034813.
[4]	IPCC. The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group Ⅰ to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021.
[5]	Roy A, Chatterjee A, Sarkar C, et al. A study on aerosol-cloud condensation nuclei(CCN) activation over eastern Himalaya in India. Atmos Res, 2017, 189(1): 69-81.
[6]	Li R J, Huang M Y, Ding D P, et al. Warm cloud size distribution experiment based on 70 m³ expansion cloud chamber. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2023, 34(5): 540-551. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20230503
[7]	Liu Y, Huang J, Shi G, et al. Aerosol optical properties and radiative effect determined from sky-radiometer over Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Atmos Chem Phys, 2011, 11(22): 11455-11463. doi: 10.5194/acp-11-11455-2011
[8]	Wang T H, Sun M X, Huang J P. Research review on dust and pollution using spaceborne lidar in China. Trans Atmos Sci, 2020, 43(1): 144-158. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-NJQX202001014.htm
[9]	Li W, Zhao H J, Wang C S, et al. Variation characteristics of aerosol optical depth in Northeast China from 2003 to 2022. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(2): 211-224. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240207
[10]	Wu X T, Wang X Y, Zheng D, et al. Effects of different aerosols on cloud-to-ground lightning activity in the Yangtze River Delta. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2023, 34(5): 608-618. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20230509
[11]	Guo X L, Fu D H, Guo X, et al. Advances in aircraft measurements of clouds and precipitation in China. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(6): 641-652. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20210601
[12]	Duan J, Lou X F, Chen Y, et al. Aircraft measurements of aerosol vertical distributions and its activation efficiency over the Pearl River Delta. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(6): 677-689. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20190604
[13]	You L G, Ma P M, Chen J H, et al. A case study of the aerosol characteristics in the lower troposphere during a dust storm event. J Appl Meteor Sci, 1991, 2(1): 13-21. http://qikan.camscma.cn/article/id/19910102
[14]	Niu S J, Sun Z B. Aircraft measurements of sand aerosol over Northwest China Desert Area in late spring. Plateau Meteor, 2005, 24(4): 604-610. doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-0534.2005.04.021
[15]	Ma X C, Bi K, Tian H J, et al. Aircraft measurements of aerosol characteristics during dust evens in Beijing. Meteor Sci Technol, 2016, 44(1): 95-103. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QXKJ201601017.htm
[16]	Dong X B, Mai R, Wang H L, et al. An interaction study between atmospheric pollutants and boundary layer during a dust storm weather in Shijiazhuang. China Environ Sci, 2021, 41(3): 1024-1033. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-ZGHJ202103006.htm
[17]	Cai Z X, Li Z Q, Li P R, et al. Vertical distributions of aerosol microphysical and optical properties based on aircraft measurements made over the Loess Plateau in China. Atmos Environ, 2022, 270. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118888.
[18]	Ma X Q, Guo X L, Liu N, et al. Aircraft measurements on properties of aerosols over the central and eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(6): 706-719. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20210606
[19]	Chen S Y, Huang J P, Li J X, et al. Comparison of dust emissions, transport, and deposition between the Taklimakan Desert and Gobi Desert from 2007 to 2011. Sci China(Earth Sci), 2017, 47(8): 939-957. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-JDXK201708006.htm
[20]	Huang J P, Ma J R, Guan X D, et al. Progress in semi-arid climate change studies in China. Adv Atmos Sci, 2019, 36(9): 922-937.
[21]	Song Y L. Global research progress of drought indices. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2022, 33(5): 513-526. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20220501
[22]	Yao T D. Tackling on environmental changes in Tibetan Plateau with focus on water, ecosystem and adaptation. Sci Bull, 2019, 64(7): 417.
[23]	Li X, Gou X H, Wang N L, et al. Tightening ecological management facilitates green development in the Qilian Mountains. Chinese Sci Bull, 2019, 64(27): 2928-2937. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-KXTB201927018.htm
[24]	Zhang X T, Hu Y Q, Li H Y, et al. Integrated design of the airborne task system equipped for the high-performance MA60 seeding aircraft. Adv Meteor Sci Tech, 2021, 11(5): 94-101. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QXKZ202105018.htm
[25]	Li J X, Li P R, Ren G, et al. Aircraft measurements of aerosol distribution, warm cloud microphysical properties, and their relationship over the Eastern Loess Plateau in China. Tellus B Chem Phys Meteor, 2019, 71(1). DOI: 10.1080/16000889.2019.1663994.
[26]	Gao Q, Liu Q, Bi K, et al. Estimation of aerosol activation ratio and water vapor supersaturation at cloud base using aircraft measurement. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(6): 653-664. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20210602
[27]	Liu C W, Guo X L, Duan W, et al. Observation and analysis of microphysical characteristics of stratiform clouds with embedded convections in Yunnan. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2022, 33(2): 142-154. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20220202
[28]	Wang Z L, Zhou X, Wu J H, et al. Weather conditions and cloud microphysical characteristics of an aircraft severe icing process. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2022, 33(5): 555-567. doi: 10.11898/1001-7313.20220504
[29]	Huai B J, Wang J Y, Sun W J, et al. Evaluation of the near-surface climate of the recent global atmospheric reanalysis for Qilian Mountains, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Atmos Res, 2021, 250. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2020.105401.
[30]	Bera B, Bhattacharjee S, Sengupta N, et al. Variation and dispersal of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 during COVID-19 lockdown over Kolkata metropolitan city, India investigated through HYSPLIT model. Geosci Front, 2022, 13(1). DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2021.101291.
[31]	Niu S J, Zhang C C, Sun J M. Observational researches on the size distribution of sand aerosol particles in the Helan Mountain Area. Chinese J Atmos Sci, 2001, 25(2): 243-252. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DQXK200102012.htm
[32]	Wang Y F, Leng W N, Pang Z Y, et al. A case study of aircraft observation of aerosol vertical distribution and its effect on cloud microphysics in Northwest China. Plateau Meteor, 2023, 42(4): 1031-1043. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GYQX202304018.htm
[33]	Sun J H, Zhao L N, Zhao S X. An integrated numerical modeling system of dust storm suitable to North China and its applications. Clim Environ Res, 2003, 8(2): 125-142. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QHYH200302000.htm
[34]	Zhang Q, Wang S. On physical characteristics of heavy dust storm and its climatic effect. J Desert Res, 2005, 25(5): 675-681. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-ZGSS200505009.htm
[35]	Jia R, Liu Y Z, Wu C Q, et al. Three-dimensional distribution and transport process of dust aerosols over China from 2007 to 2017. J Desert Res, 2019, 39(6): 108-117. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-ZGSS201906013.htm
[36]	Liu Y Z, Luo R, Zhu Q Z, et al. Advances in researches on properties and interactions of aerosols and clouds over drylands of East Asian. Meteor Sci Technol, 2023, 51(1): 124-133. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QXKJ202301014.htm