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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (1): 266-276.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2024.00180

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Influence and source analysis of Spring dust storm on ambient air quality in Xi'an, China

Li Li1(), Shun Xiao1(), Zhibao Dong1, Ping Lv1, Na Wang2, Jiayin Zhang3, Jing Han4, Zhuangzhuang Zhang5, Na Mi5, Suixin Liu6, Jianbao Liu7   

  1. 1.School of Geography and Tourism,Shaanxi Normal University,Xi'an 710119,China
    2.Shaanxi Climate Center,Xi'an 710014,China
    3.Shaanxi Provincial Environmental Monitoring Central Station,Xi'an 710054,China
    4.Xi'an Environmental Monitoring Station,Xi'an 710018,China
    5.Xi'an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research,Xi'an 710061,China
    6.Institute of Earth Environment,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Xi'an 710061,China
    7.College of Urban and Environment Sciences,Peking University,Beijing 100871,China
  • Received:2024-11-08 Revised:2024-12-11 Online:2025-01-20 Published:2025-01-13
  • Contact: Shun Xiao

Abstract:

As an important hub city of the "Silk Road Economic Belt", Xi'an is located in the Guanzhong Basin, bordering the Loess Plateau to the north, Qinling Mountains to the south, and a large number of gobi desert distributed in the northwest, which is an important influence area of sand and dust transit in northern China. In order to study the variation characteristics and potential source areas of atmospheric particulate matter concentration on different time scales during Spring dust in Xi'an, this paper comprehensively analyzes the continuous monitoring data of ambient air quality in Xi'an from March to May 2023. The cluster analysis, potential source factor analysis (PSCF) and concentration weight trajectory analysis (CWT) of a typical dust process were carried out by using HYSPLIT backward trajectory model. The results show that: (1) In the Spring of 2023, there were 9 dust processes in Xi 'an, one of which was blowing sand and the rest was floating dust; The dust distribution was concentrated in March and April, showing a spatial pattern of more in the west and less in the east, more in the surrounding area and less in the city. (2) The concentration of atmospheric particulate matter presented significant response characteristics on different time scales. Specifically, the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in the dust period were much higher than those in the non-dust period, and PM10 was significantly higher than PM2.5. The monthly variation of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration showed a fluctuating change characteristic of first increasing and then decreasing. The ratio of PM2.5/PM10 showed the characteristics of March > May > April, while the correlation between PM2.5 and PM10 showed the characteristics of March < May < April. (3) In the process of sand lifting from April 20 to 21, the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 showed a "single-peak" type change, the PM2.5/PM10 ratio showed an inverted" U" pattern change. The concentrations of NO2, SO2 and CO all showed a decreasing trend, while the concentration of O3 showed a decreasing trend first, then increasing and then decreasing. (4) From April 20 to 21, the dust process was formed by the transit of Mongolian High Pressure and surface cold front, and the sand transport path was northwest path, north path and east path. The dust sources were Tengger Desert, Badain Jaran Desert, Kubuchi Desert, Mu Us Desert, Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia and sandy land in northern Henan Province.

Key words: dust storm, ambient air quality, source, Spring, Xi'an

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