A dust event in the Mongolian Gobi Desert in spring 2016: Observations and vertical dust flux estimation

Abstract

A meteorological and dust monitoring tower with 20 m height set up at a Nomgon site in the Mongolian Gobi Deserts in 2010. The Nomgon monitoring tower equipped with wind speed sensors at 2, 4, 10 and 20 m height above the ground level (AGL), a wind direction sensor at 10 m height, a sonic anemometer to measure turbulent momentum flux at 8 m height and a soil moisture sensor at 5 cm depth. A dust storm was expected in the Mongolian Gobi from 30 April to 1 May 2016 and two aerosol monitors (Dust-Trak) were set at 0.9 and 2.95 m heights in the tower for measuring PM10. Above mentioned data from the tower during an intensive observation period (IOP) of the dust event are used in this study. In association with a surface cyclone, its frontal system and a trough aloft, dust concentrations of PM10 increased during the dust storm period due to raised wind speed in the dry conditions of air and soil. The present study aims to estimate friction velocity (u*) and vertical dust flux (F) around the Nomgon site during the dust storm period. The observations and estimation results are presented.