Subjects: Geosciences >> Atmospheric Sciences submitted time 2023-05-30 Cooperative journals: 《干旱区研究》
Abstract： An unusual winter synoptic process of mixed rain and snow with strong airborne dustfall occurred in Xinjiang, northwestern China from November 30 to December 3, 2018. Based on the meteorological records, environmental monitoring data, and continuous atmospheric dustfall observations, we analyzed the characteristics of the air pollutants during the synoptic process and studied their impact on the environment. The results showed that, during this anomalous synoptic process, >90% of the oasis cities in Xinjiang Province, China were affected by the atmospheric particulate pollution. The inhalable particulate matter comprised mostly coarse particles. This abnormal synoptic process caused the concentration of particulate matter to rapidly rise with PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm) concentration in Xinjiang reaching a maximum of 4745 μg·m-3. The occurrence of strong winds in the Xinjiang cities was highly positively correlated with the elevated PM10 concentration and air quality index. This synoptic process resulted in a total atmospheric dust deposition of approximately 0.9- 1.52 million tons in the provincial capital city of Urumqi. The average airborne dustfall intensity in Urumqi was 85 g·m-2, exceeding the city’s annual average by 60%. This anomalous winter rain and snow mixed with eolian dust caused severe pollution of the atmosphere as well as intense atmospheric dustfall. Under the action of atmospheric circulation with jet streams, enormous amounts of particulates were transported to the oasis areas, seriously deteriorating the quality of the atmosphere in the urban environment. The Taklamakan Desert is the main pollution source for these strong winter dustfall events in Xinjiang, northwestern China.
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