Abstract: In-situ observed sand-dust storm data and FY-3A dust storm monitoring data were used to analyze the spatial and seasonal distribution of sand-dust weather in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Results show that the occurrence frequency and strength of sand-dust weather decrease from the TH to the southeastern QTP. Seasonally, observations show that the QTP has more sand-dust storms in spring and winter, while the TH has more sand-dust storms in spring and summer, mainly because the near-surface high wind speed moves north in March and then moves south in October. However, FY-3A dust storm data show that there is more sand-dust weather in winter and spring for both regions, its occurrence strength of sand-dust weather is also different from the observations seasonally. In 1980-2007, the occurrence frequency of sand-dust storms reduces for most stations in both QTP and TH significantly, but their occurrence strength decreases in QTP while increases in TH.

Key words: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sand-dust weather, sand-dust storm remote sensing, FY-3A