Characteristics of dust-storm particles and their long-range transport from China to Japan - Case studies in April 1993

Abstract

Case studies on the characteristics and transport of Asian dust-storm particles are examined in this paper using particle samples collected in the spring of 1993 over China and Japan. During the dust-storm in Beijing, aerosol concentrations were one or two orders of magnitude larger than typical. The enrichment factors of pollution elements during the dust-storm were distinctly less than those before and after dust. Analyses of individual dust particles with an analytical electron microscope showed that the dust particles over China had distinct irregular shapes and contained crustal elements. After transport, the dust particles collected over Japan were modified by sea salt and/or anthropogenic pollutants.