Open AccessDolomite as a tracer for the source regions of Asian dust
Author(s) -
Li Gaojun,
Chen Jun,
Chen Yang,
Yang Jiedong,
Ji Junfeng,
Liu Lianwen
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2007jd008676
Subject(s) - dolomite , loess , geology , loess plateau , dust storm , plateau (mathematics) , asian dust , arid , beijing , china , geochemistry , storm , geomorphology , paleontology , oceanography , geography , soil science , aerosol , archaeology , meteorology , mathematical analysis , mathematics
The possibility of using dolomite as a source tracer for Asian dust was assessed. Samples of potential dust sources were systematically collected from the arid‐semiarid areas in north China. Dolomite, of detrital origin, was detected only in samples taken from the regions on the north margin of Tibetan Plateau (NMTP). Thus the NMTP‐originated dust can be detected by the presence of detrital dolomite, and applications are performed for the modern dust in Beijing and the ancient dust deposits of loess in north China. Contribution of the NMTP‐originated particles to the spring dust in Beijing and the loess in Chinese Loess Plateau and eastern Tibetan Plateau are suggested. However, dolomite cannot be detected in the studied dust‐storm dust and the loess in northeast China, indicating their sources other than the NMTP regions.