Variations in Aerosol Optical Properties over East Asian Dust Storm Source Regions and Their Climatic Factors during 2000–2021

The East Asian dust storms occur in western and northern China, southern Mongolia every year, particularly spring. In this study, we use satellite aerosol products to demonstrate the spatial temporal variation optical depth (AOD) from MODIS, absorbing index (AAI) TOMS OMI, over main storm source regions (MDSR), investigate their relationship vegetation coverage (NDVI), soil properties (surface moisture content temperature 0–10 cm underground), climatic factors wind speed, air at 2 m above ground, precipitation) spring for period of 2000–2021. Compared with occurrence frequency (DSF) observed surface stations, MODIS AOD, AAI, OMI AAI showed consistent distributions seasonal variations DSF MDSR, correlation coefficients 0.88, 0.55, respectively. results that AOD MDSR decreased during 2000–2005, 2006–2017, 2000–2021, but increased 2017–2021.The improvements together favorable (the increase precipitation decrease speed) resulted decreasing trend entire Conversely, low 2018 2020 were reasons increases 2017–2021. combination effects wind, temperature, moisture, would determine DSF, end, under global climate change.