Analysis of the relationship between dust aerosol and precipitation in spring over East Asia using EOF and SVD methods

Hui Liu; Ye Yu; Dunsheng Xia; Suping Zhao; Xiaoyi Ma; Longxiang Dong

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168437

Analysis of the relationship between dust aerosol and precipitation in spring over East Asia using EOF and SVD methods

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 15:908:168437. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168437. Epub 2023 Nov 12.

Authors

Hui Liu¹, Ye Yu², Dunsheng Xia³, Suping Zhao⁴, Xiaoyi Ma¹, Longxiang Dong⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
² Key Laboratory of Land Surface Process & Climate Change in Cold & Arid Regions, the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Pingliang Land Surface Process & Severe Weather Research Station, CAS, Pingliang 744015, China. Electronic address: yyu@lzb.ac.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: dsxia@lzu.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Land Surface Process & Climate Change in Cold & Arid Regions, the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Pingliang Land Surface Process & Severe Weather Research Station, CAS, Pingliang 744015, China.

PMID: 37963521
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168437

Abstract

This study utilized the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) methods to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns and trends of dust aerosol and precipitation, and to identify the coupled modes between them. The research employed MODIS and CALIPSO retrieved dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD) data to represent dust aerosol information and CMORPH data to provide precipitation information. The results indicated that specific dust source regions were associated with the primary modes of spring dust in East Asia, while atmospheric circulation and land-sea monsoon were closely related to the primary modes of spring precipitation. Additionally, the study revealed that the impact of dust aerosol on precipitation varied based on the source region within the coupled modes. The first coupled mode, with dust sources in the Mongolian Gobi and Taklamakan Desert, demonstrated a pattern of increased dust aerosol and reduced precipitation in most regions. The second coupled mode, with dust sources focused on the Mongolian Gobi, exhibited a consistent pattern of increased dust aerosol and a significant increase in precipitation in northern China. This study highlights the significance of considering dust source regions when examining the relationship between dust aerosol and precipitation, providing new insights into the potential impact of dust aerosol on precipitation in East Asia during the spring.

Keywords: Cloud; Dust aerosol; Precipitation; SVD analysis.