Structure of dust and air pollutant outflow over East Asia in the spring

Syuichi Itahashi, Keiya Yumimoto, Itsushi Uno, Kenta Eguchi, Toshihiko Takemura, Yukari Hara, Atsushi Shimizu, Nobuo Sugimoto, Zhaoyan Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Springtime outflow of Asian dust and air pollutants was investigated by a synergetic analysis of ground-based/space-borne Lidar observations and numerical models. We identified two prominent outflow patterns, and its occurrence frequency. Pattern I was induced within a typical warm-sector which lifted up dust particles into the free troposphere, and the existence of two sequential low-pressure systems played an important role. Pattern II was a behind cold front outbreak. Atmospheric stratification was significantly different; Pattern I had weak stratification within the troposphere (potential temperature gradient of ∼2-3.4 K/km), and most of elevated dust layer (typically horizontally 1500-2000 km, vertically 2.5-4 km AGL) remained unmixed with pollutants. Pattern II was characterized by a strong stratification of ∼5 K/km; dust and pollutants were trapped and well mixed within the PBL, forming polluted dust. Among the six cases of large-scale dust/pollutants outbreaks, only two cases are belonged to Pattern I.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL20806
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume37
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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