Integration of multi-source measurements to monitor sand-dust storms over North China: A case study

The aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard Satellite Aqua, along with the altitude-resolved aerosol subtypes product from the Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP), as well as surface PM10 measurements, were utilized to investigate the dust activities common in springtime of northern China. Specifically, a dust storm episode that occurred over the North China Plain (NCP) during 17–21 March 2010 was identified. The PM10 concentration at Beijing (39.8°N, 116.47°E) reached the peak value of 283 µg m−3 on 20 March 2010 from the background value of 15 µg m−3 measured on 17 March 2010, then dropped to 176 µg m−3 on 21 March 2010. Analysis of the CALIOP aerosol subtypes product showed that numerous large dust plumes floated over northern China, downwind of main desert source regions, and were lifted to altitudes as high as 3.5 km during this time period.