Publications

Mu, FF; Fiedler, S (2025). How much do atmospheric depressions and Mongolian cyclones contribute to spring dust activities in East Asia?. NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE, 8(1), 51.

Abstract
Severe East Asian dust storms occur in spring due to dust-emitting winds in the Gobi Desert associated with Mongolian cyclones. The present study performs the first quantitative assessment of the contributions of Mongolian cyclones to springtime dust activity in East Asia, based on multiple reanalyses and observational datasets for 2001-2022. Atmospheric depressions dominate dust activities in Northern China, explaining similar to 90-92% of the total dust emissions in the Gobi Desert and similar to 88-93% of the dust aerosol optical depth (tau) downwind, depending on the dataset. Mongolian cyclones, defined as long-living and mobile atmospheric depressions, explain almost half (similar to 34-47%) of the Gobi's total dust emissions and tau downwind, and are the primary driver of high-impact dust storms. The number of Mongolian cyclones, along with the dust activity, has decreased since 2001, with a spatial pattern of the dust emission trend that is consistent with the northward shift of cyclone tracks.

DOI:
10.1038/s41612-025-00929-w

ISSN: