Dust storm frequency and its relation to climate changes in Northern China during the past 1000 years.

Yang B, Bräuning A, Zhang Z, Dong Z, Esper J (2007)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2007

Journal

Atmospheric Environment Elsevier

Publisher: Elsevier

Book Volume: 41

Pages Range: 9288–9299

Journal Issue: 40

URI: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231007007960

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.09.025

Open Access Link: http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1352231007007960/1-s2.0-S1352231007007960-main.pdf?_tid=42fb4486-379b-11e6-af98-00000aab0f6b&acdnat=1466505246_bb08475d01c51f02e683d2f40eb711fd

Abstract

Dust storm events and their relation to climate changes in Northern China during the past 1000 years were analyzed by using different paleoclimate archives such as ice cores, tree rings, and historical documents. The results show that in the semiarid region, the temperature and precipitation series were significantly negatively correlated to the dust storm frequency on a decadal timescale. Compared with temperature changes, however, there was a closer correlation between precipitation changes and dust storm events on a centennial timescale. At this timescale, precipitation accounts for 40% of the variance of dust fall variations during the last 1700 years, inferring precipitation control on the formation of dust storms. In the western arid region, both temperature and precipitation changes are important forcing factors for the occurrence of dust storms in the region on a centennial timescale. In the eastern arid region, the relationship between dust storm events and climate changes are similar like in the semiarid region. As a result, the effects of climate change on dust storm events were manifested on decadal and centennial timescales during the last millennium. However, there is a phase shift in the relation between climate change and the dust storm frequency. A 1400 years reconstruction of the strength of the Siberian High reveals that long-term variations of spring Siberian High intensity might provide a background for the dynamic conditions for the frequency of historical dust storm events in Northern China.

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI) CN China (CN) Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich CH Switzerland (CH)

How to cite

APA:

Yang, B., Bräuning, A., Zhang, Z., Dong, Z., & Esper, J. (2007). Dust storm frequency and its relation to climate changes in Northern China during the past 1000 years. Atmospheric Environment, 41(40), 9288–9299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.09.025

MLA:

Yang, Bao, et al. "Dust storm frequency and its relation to climate changes in Northern China during the past 1000 years." Atmospheric Environment 41.40 (2007): 9288–9299.

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