Sand-dust storms in China: temporal-spatial distribution and tracks of source lands (original) (raw)

Abstract

Sand-dust storm is a special natural disaster that frequently occurs in deserts and their surrounding areas. With the data published on_Surface Meteorological Monthly Bulletin_ and_Surface Chart_ during 1971–1996, the temporal-spatial distribution and annual variation of sand-dust storms are analyzed on the basis of the case study of atmospheric processes. Furthermore, the tracks and source areas of sand-dust storms are determined with the aid of GIS. The results show that except some parts of Qinghai Province and Inner Mongolia as well as Beijing, sand-dust storms decrease apparently in time and space in recent decades in China. Sand-dust storms occur most frequently in spring, especially in April. According to their source areas, sand-dust storms are classified into two types, i.e., the inner-source and outer-source sand-dust storms. Most of the outer-source sand-dust storms move along the north and west tracks. The north-track outer-source sand-dust storms always intrude into China across the Sino-Mongolian border from Hami, a city in the eastern part ofXinjiang, to Xilin Gol, a league in Inner Mongolia, while the west-track ones intrude into China from both southern and northern Xinjiang. The source lands of inner-source sand-dust storms concentrate in the Taklimakan Desert and its surrounding areas in southern Xinjiang, southern part of the Junggar Basin in north of Xinjiang, the Hexi Corridor in western Gansu Province, the dry deserts of Inner Mongolia and the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhao Xingliang. Damages and countermeasures of catastrophic sandstorm occurred in Gansu Province.J. Desert Research, 1993,13 (3): 1–7.
    Google Scholar
  2. Xu Guochang, Cheng Minlian, Wu Guoxiong. On an extraordinary heavy sandstorm on April 22 in Gansu Province.Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 1979,37 (4): 26–35.
    Google Scholar
  3. Wang Shigong, Dong Guangrong, Yang Debao_et al._ Study on sand-dust storms over the desert region in North China.J. Natural Disasters, 1996,5 (2): 86–94.
    Google Scholar
  4. Quan Hao. Study on sandstorms and aerosol transport roads in northwest China.Environmental Science, 1993,14(5): 60–64.
    Google Scholar
  5. Hankin E H. On dust raising winds and descending currents.India Met. Memoirs, 1921,22: part VI.
  6. Sutton L J Haboobs.Quart. J. R. Met. Soc., 1925,51: 25–30.
    Google Scholar
  7. Idso S B, R S Ingram, J M Pritchard. “An American Haboob”.Bull. AMS, 1972,53: 930–935.
    Google Scholar
  8. Joseph P V, Raipal D K, Deka S N. “Andhi”, the convective dust storms of Northwest India.Mausam, 1980,31: 431–442.
    Google Scholar
  9. Brazel A J, WC Nicking. The relationship of weather types to dust storm generation in Arizona.J. Climatology, 1986,6 (3): 255–275.
    Article Google Scholar
  10. Jauregui E. The dust storms of Mexico City.Int. J. Climatology, 1989,9 (2): 169–180.
    Article Google Scholar
  11. Ott S T, A Ott. Analysis of a trans-atlantic Saharan dust outbreak based on satellite and GATE data.Mon. Wea. Rev., 1991,119 (8): 1832–1850.
    Article Google Scholar
  12. Gao Fengrong, Li Yun. Analysis of a sandstorm occurred on May 19 in Gansu Province.Gansu Meteorology, 1989, 7(1): 13–17.
    Google Scholar
  13. Chen Minlian, Guo Qingtai, Xu Jianfeng_et al._ Research on characteristics of sandstorm weather.Gansu Meteorology, 1993,11 (3): 16–27.
    Google Scholar
  14. Wang Shigong, Yang Debao, Zhou Yusu_el al._ Analysis on the formative causes of sand-dust storms in Northwest China during April 3–12, 1994.J. Desert Research, 1995,15 (4): 332–338.
    Google Scholar
  15. Xu Jianfen, Niu Zhiming, Chen Weiming_et al._ Study of sand and dust storm weather in Northwest China on April 5, 1994.J. Desert Research, 1996,16 (3): 281–286.
    Google Scholar
  16. Chang Zhaofen, Liu Hujun, Ji Yongfu. Investigation and analysis on the latest strong sand-dust storm occurred in Hexi Corridor.J. Desert Research, 1997,17 (4): 442–446.
    Google Scholar
  17. Yang Dongzhen, Fang Xiumei, Li Xingsheng. Analysis on the variation trend of sandstorm in northern China.Quart. J. Applied Meteorology, 1998,9 (3): 352–358.
    Google Scholar
  18. Fu Youzhi, Liu Kunxun, Ding Rong_et al._ Causes and predictions of sandstorm in Gansu Province.Gansu Meteorology, 1993,11 (3): 40–42.
    Google Scholar
  19. Shalamaiti. The characteristic of distribution of sandstorm in a period of time in the Tarim Basin.Arid Zone Research, 1996,13 (3): 21–27.
    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urban & Resource Department, Nanjing University, 210009, Nanjing, China
    Qiu Xin-fa
  2. Department of Environmental Science, Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 210044, Nanjing, China
    Zeng Yan & Miao Qi-long

Authors

  1. Qiu Xin-fa
  2. Zeng Yan
  3. Miao Qi-long

Corresponding author

Correspondence toQiu Xin-fa.

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xin-fa, Q., Yan, Z. & Qi-long, M. Sand-dust storms in China: temporal-spatial distribution and tracks of source lands.J. Geogr. Sci. 11, 253–260 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892308

Download citation

Key words