Development and evolution of an anomalous Asian dust event across Europe in March 2020

Abstract

Abstract. This paper concerns an in-depth analysis of an exceptional incursion of mineral dust over southern Europe in late March 2020 (27–30 March 2020). This event was associated with an anomalous circulation pattern leading to several days of PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm) exceedances in connection with a dust source located in central Asia; this is a rare source of dust for Europe, which is more frequently affected by dust outbreaks from the Sahara Desert. The synoptic meteorological configuration was analyzed in detail, and the aerosol evolution during the transit of the dust plume over northern Italy was assessed at high time resolution by means of optical particle counting at three stations, namely Bologna, Trieste, and Mt. Cimone, allowing for the revelation of the transport timing among the three locations. Back-trajectory analyses supported by Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) maps allowed for the location of the mineral dust source area in the Aralkum region. Therefore, the event was analyzed by observing the particle number size distribution with the support of chemical composition analysis. It is shown that the PM10 exceedance recorded is associated with a large fraction of coarse particles, which is in agreement with mineral dust properties. Both the in situ number size distribution and the vertical distribution of the dust plume were cross-checked using lidar ceilometer and aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from two nearby stations and showed that the dust plume (in contrast to those originating from the Sahara Desert) traveled close to the ground (up to a height of about 2 km). The limited mixing layer height caused by high concentrations of absorbing and scattering aerosols caused the mixing of mineral dust with other locally produced ambient aerosols, thereby potentially increasing its morbidity effects.

Intense Desert Dust Event in the Northern Adriatic (March 2020); Insights From the Numerical Model Application and Chemical Characterization Results

“…Looking at the situation horizontally and focusing on the highest measured PM 10 levels, the Saharan dust was present ∼1 day before the Asian one, and both plumes were present over the same part of the Balkan Peninsula on 26 March 2020. Our results are consistent with the study by Tositti et al (2022), which found that the two dust plumes merged on the evening of 26 March (their Figures 1c, 2c, A1c).…”

“…(2020) and Tositti et al. (2022). Both studies were based on the analysis of (in situ and remote) measurements, reanalyses, and backward HYSPLIT trajectories.…”

A Synoptic- and Remote Sensing-based Analysis of a Severe Dust Storm Event over Central Asia

“…Dust particles rising from Central Asia are held responsible for air-quality deterioration over Korea, Japan and Taiwan (Hashizume et al, 2010;Hasunuma et al, 2019), as well as northeast Iran-Afghanistan and other parts of southwest Asia (Kaskaoutis et al, 2016;Mohammadpour et al, 2022). Specific synoptic weather patterns may also favour dust from CA to be transported to the west, impacting Georgia, Belarus and Lithuania (Hongisto and Sofiev, 2004) or even the Balkans and Italy (Tositti et al, 2022).…”

“…depending on area and meteorological conditions (Rupakheti et al, 2020(Rupakheti et al, , 2019, while dustinduced radiative forcing during intense dust events in Dushanbe, Tajikistan were estimated at -48 ± 12, -85 ± 24 and 37 ± 15 Wm -2 at the top of the atmosphere, surface and within the atmosphere, respectively, with even higher values during extreme dust events (Rupakheti et al, 2021).Although several aspects regarding dust sources, climatology of dust activity and dust impacts have been well documented in CA, as discussed above, case studies of severe and longrange transported dust events from this region are rare in the literature (Tositti et al, 2022).…”

“…The omega blocking system, accompanied with the Siberian anticyclone and favoured by the establishment of the upper-level jet stream over east Kazakhstan, seem to play a major role in the dust storm outbreak in east Kazakhstan. Although the atmospheric circulation patterns during intense dust storms in CA have not been well documented, being also variable depending on season and dust event (Kaskaoutis et al, 2019b;Tositti et al, 2022), the role of the Siberian anticyclone, the position and movement of the upper-level jet stream seem to be very important factors controlling dust activity over CA during the cold period of the year.…”