Open AccessLong‐range transport and vertical structure of Asian dust from CALIPSO and surface measurements during PACDEX
Author(s) -
Huang Jianping,
Minnis Patrick,
Chen Bin,
Huang Zhongwei,
Liu Zhaoyan,
Zhao Qingyun,
Yi Yuhong,
Ayers J. Kirk
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1029/2008jd010620
Subject(s) - troposphere , lidar , asian dust , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , range (aeronautics) , aerosol , mineral dust , altitude (triangle) , geology , climatology , meteorology , remote sensing , geography , materials science , geometry , mathematics , composite material
Knowledge of long‐range transport and vertical distribution of Asian dust aerosols in the free troposphere is important for estimating their impact on climate. Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), surface micropulse lidar (MPL), and standard surface measurements are used to directly observe the long‐range transport and vertical distribution of Asian dust aerosols in the free troposphere during the Pacific Dust Experiment (PACDEX). The MPL measurements were made at the Loess Plateau (35.95°N, 104.1°E) near the major dust source regions of the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts. Dust events are more frequent in the Taklamakan, where floating dust dominates, while more intensive, less frequent dust storms are more common in the Gobi region. The vertical distribution of the CALIPSO backscattering/depolarization ratios indicate that nonspherically shaped dust aerosols floated from near the ground to an altitude of approximately 9 km around the source regions. This suggests the possible long‐range transport of entrained dust aerosols via upper tropospheric westerly jets. A very distinct large depolarization layer was also identified between 8 and 10 km over eastern China and the western Pacific Ocean corresponding to dust aerosols transported from the Taklamakan and Gobi areas, as confirmed by back trajectory analyses. The combination of these dust sources results in a two‐layer or multilayered dust structure over eastern China and the western Pacific Ocean.