Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China
Aerosols play a critical role in modulating the land–atmosphere energy balance, influencing regional climate dynamics, and affecting air quality. Xinjiang, a typical arid and semi-arid region in China, frequently experiences dust events and complex aerosol transport processes. This study provides a...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Chenggang Li Xiaolu Ling Wenhao Liu Zeyu Tang Qianle Zhuang Meiting Fang |
| author_facet | Chenggang Li Xiaolu Ling Wenhao Liu Zeyu Tang Qianle Zhuang Meiting Fang |
| author_sort | Chenggang Li |
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| description | Aerosols play a critical role in modulating the land–atmosphere energy balance, influencing regional climate dynamics, and affecting air quality. Xinjiang, a typical arid and semi-arid region in China, frequently experiences dust events and complex aerosol transport processes. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution and potential source regions of aerosols in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2023, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol products (MCD19A2), Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) vertical profiles, ground-based PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations, MERRA-2 and ERA5 reanalysis datasets, and HYSPLIT backward trajectory simulations. The results reveal pronounced spatial and temporal heterogeneity in aerosol optical depth (AOD). In Northern Xinjiang (NXJ), AOD exhibits relatively small seasonal variation with a wintertime peak, while Southern Xinjiang (SXJ) shows significant seasonal and interannual variability, characterized by high AOD in spring and a minimum in winter, without a clear long-term trend. Dust is the dominant aerosol type, accounting for 96.74% of total aerosol content, and AOD levels are consistently higher in SXJ than in NXJ. During winter, aerosols are primarily deposited in the near-surface layer as a result of local and short-range transport processes, whereas in spring, long-range transport at higher altitudes becomes more prominent. In NXJ, air masses are primarily sourced from local regions and Central Asia, with stronger pollution levels observed in winter. In contrast, springtime pollution in Kashgar is mainly influenced by dust emissions from the Taklamakan Desert, exceeding winter levels. These findings provide important scientific insights for atmospheric environment management and the development of targeted dust mitigation strategies in arid regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f9c1549b0c1a43e5877f5da0e2d13e2b |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-f9c1549b0c1a43e5877f5da0e2d13e2b2025-07-11T14:42:24ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-06-011713220710.3390/rs17132207Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, ChinaChenggang Li0Xiaolu Ling1Wenhao Liu2Zeyu Tang3Qianle Zhuang4Meiting Fang5School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaNatural Resources Comprehensive Investigation and Monitoring Institute of Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, ChinaSchool of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaAerosols play a critical role in modulating the land–atmosphere energy balance, influencing regional climate dynamics, and affecting air quality. Xinjiang, a typical arid and semi-arid region in China, frequently experiences dust events and complex aerosol transport processes. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution and potential source regions of aerosols in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2023, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol products (MCD19A2), Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) vertical profiles, ground-based PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations, MERRA-2 and ERA5 reanalysis datasets, and HYSPLIT backward trajectory simulations. The results reveal pronounced spatial and temporal heterogeneity in aerosol optical depth (AOD). In Northern Xinjiang (NXJ), AOD exhibits relatively small seasonal variation with a wintertime peak, while Southern Xinjiang (SXJ) shows significant seasonal and interannual variability, characterized by high AOD in spring and a minimum in winter, without a clear long-term trend. Dust is the dominant aerosol type, accounting for 96.74% of total aerosol content, and AOD levels are consistently higher in SXJ than in NXJ. During winter, aerosols are primarily deposited in the near-surface layer as a result of local and short-range transport processes, whereas in spring, long-range transport at higher altitudes becomes more prominent. In NXJ, air masses are primarily sourced from local regions and Central Asia, with stronger pollution levels observed in winter. In contrast, springtime pollution in Kashgar is mainly influenced by dust emissions from the Taklamakan Desert, exceeding winter levels. These findings provide important scientific insights for atmospheric environment management and the development of targeted dust mitigation strategies in arid regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2207aerosolsaerosol sourcespatiotemporal patternsbackward trajectoryCWT |
| spellingShingle | Chenggang Li Xiaolu Ling Wenhao Liu Zeyu Tang Qianle Zhuang Meiting Fang Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China Remote Sensing aerosols aerosol source spatiotemporal patterns backward trajectory CWT |
| title | Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China |
| title_full | Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China |
| title_short | Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variability and Source Attribution of Aerosols over Xinjiang, China |
| title_sort | long term spatiotemporal variability and source attribution of aerosols over xinjiang china |
| topic | aerosols aerosol source spatiotemporal patterns backward trajectory CWT |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2207 |
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