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Effects of two dust storms on solar radiation in the Beijing‐Tianjin area
Author(s) -
Zhou Mingyu,
Chen Zhi,
Huang Runheng,
Wang Qimao,
Arimoto Richard,
Parungo Farn,
Lenschow Donald,
Okada Kikuo,
Wu Peiming
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/94gl02585
Subject(s) - environmental science , atmospheric sciences , albedo (alchemy) , storm , dust storm , aerosol , satellite , radiative forcing , beijing , flux (metallurgy) , radiative transfer , meteorology , atmosphere (unit) , climatology , physics , geology , geography , art , materials science , archaeology , quantum mechanics , astronomy , performance art , china , metallurgy , art history
AVHRR albedo data obtained from the NOAA‐11 satellite and chemical data for aerosol particle samples collected in Beijing were interpreted together with meteorological data to study the radiative effects of Asian dust. Compared with the clear‐sky background, the albedo values for the Beijing area during two dust storms in April 1993 increased by 20 to 125%; the direct solar radiation flux at the surface decreased; and the scattered radiation flux at the surface increased. The total solar radiation flux at the ground during the two dust storms decreased by 40% and 10% respectively. Furthermore, the extent of the changes was related to the strength of the dust storms. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of using satellite data to study the radiative forcing of dust storms.