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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406849
Research Project: Science and Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Western Rangeland Systems

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Dust event variations between China's different climate zones

Author
item PI, HUAWEI - Henan University
item ABATZOLOU, JOHN - University Of California
item Webb, Nicholas
item LI, SISI - Henan University

Submitted to: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2025
Publication Date: 5/31/2025
Citation: Pi, H., Abatzolou, J., Webb, N.P., Li, S. 2025. Dust event variations between China's different climate zones. Journal of Climate. 130(11).

Interpretive Summary: Dust weather is a major concern for arid and semiarid regions, dust also can occur in various climate zones because of dust mobility, resulting from human activities and climatic changes. To study dust emissions from a major global source that affects the US and other countries, we studied dust events at 2417 meteorological stations in China. Dust events decreased significantly from 1954–2020. The frequency of dust events was two orders of magnitude greater cold deserts when compared with the other climate zones. Dust events were generally most active in March, April, and May. However, the most active month could occur as early as January and as late as June. Dust events were more frequently observed in cropland areas than in deserts, degraded meadows, or scrubs. These data can help understand where and when dust mitigation via management decisions (such as grazing or fallowing) is needed to reduce emissions from this important global dust source.

Technical Abstract: Dust weather is a major concern for arid and semiarid regions, dust also can occur in various climate zones because of dust mobility, resulting from human activities and climatic changes. In this study, the spatiotemporal characteristics of dust events at 2417 meteorological stations in China, encompassing 14 Köppen-Geiger climate zones, were investigated. Floating dust frequency (FDF), blowing dust frequency (BDF), dust storm frequency (DSF), and related meteorological data were analyzed to assess dust activity from 1954–2020. Dust events decreased significantly from 1954–2020, and the BDF had the greatest rate (-0.14 d y-1), while the FDF had the greatest mean frequency (4.535 d y-1). The meteorological parameters all significantly decreased or increased during the study period and were directly or indirectly related to decreases in dust. The frequency of dust events was two orders of magnitude greater in the Bwk (cold desert climate) when compared with the other climate 39 zones, although the annual wind speed was not always greater. The total frequency for dust events in the non-dry climate zones ranged from 0.025 d y-1 in the Aw (tropical rainforest climate) to 11.38 d y-1 in the ET (polar tundra). As a non-dry climate zone, the ET was found to have more frequent dust than some of the other dry climate zones. Dust events were generally most active in March, April, and May. However, the most active month could occur as early as January and as late as June. Dust events were more frequently observed in cropland areas than in deserts, degraded meadows, or scrubs.