Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Experimental Methods of Dust Charging and Mobilization on Surfaces with Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation or Plasmas
Published on: April 3, 2018
Radiative effects of dust aerosols and their impacts on precipitation in typical cities surrounding the Taklimakan
Guanghui Zhou1, Jing Zhang1, Xiaoqing Deng1
1Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
Abstract:
Dust aerosols originating from the Taklimakan Desert (TD) significantly affected air quality and the regional climate. In this study, ground-based observations, satellite retrievals, and reanalysis data were integrated to quantitatively assess the aerosol direct radiative effect (ADRE) and its impact on precipitation under different dust pollution levels in four representative cities surrounding the TD - Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu, and Bayingolin. The results indicated that during three periods (09:00-11:00, 12:00-14:00, and 15:00-17:00 Beijing Time - BJT), the magnitude of ADRE for direct, diffuse, total radiation, and diffuse fraction increased with dust pollution intensity, whereas the radiative efficiency decreased. Under certain dust levels, the intensity of the ADRE weakened as surface albedo (SA) and/or the solar zenith angle (SZA) increased. Under all-sky conditions, changes in the radiative energy balance affected the atmospheric thermal structure. From no-dust to mild dust level, the near-surface temperature (1000 hPa) decreased by 4.26, 6.15, and 11.39 °C in Kashgar, Aksu, and Bayingolin, respectively; from mild to heavy dust level, further decreases of 6.73, 5.75, and 5.42 °C occurred, while Hotan experienced a 1.96 °C decrease. As the dust pollution intensified, the lower tropospheric stability (LTS) increased, while water vapor flux (WVF), liquid water path (LWP), cloud droplet effective radius (re), and total precipitable water (TPW) decreased, thereby suppressing precipitation. This study would provide additional evidence for understanding the impacts of dust aerosols at varying pollution intensities on the regional radiative energy balance and precipitation.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Effects of Radiation
Precipitation Reactions
Precipitation of Ions
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
Precipitation and Co-precipitation
Typical Model Studies
Precipitation Processes

