Long-range transport characteristics of mineral dust from North Africa to East Asia based on simulation

Abstract

Dust from North Africa and Middle East can be long-range transported to East Asia and affect regional climate and environment. In this study, the separated simulation of the updated WRF-Chem model are used to investigate the transport characteristics of North African and Middle East dust during a dust event captured by ground-based lidar in Dunhuang, China on 5~8 April, 2012. The results show that it taken 6~7 days for dust plume transport from North Africa to East Asia. During the transport, the maximum concentration of dust plume decreased obviously. The top and bottom height remained at the altitude of 4~8 km. The results enrich the research on the transport of dust from North Africa to East Asia.