Analysis of characteristics and changes in three-dimensional spatial and temporal distribution of aerosol types in Central Asia

Atmospheric aerosol types and characteristics have regional and seasonal characteristics mainly due spatial and temporal differences in emission sources and diffuse transport conditions. We explored regional three-dimensional spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of aerosol types in Central Asia from daytime to nighttime by using long-term (2007–2021) CALIPSO lidar measurements. The three results are as follows: (1) Average aerosol optical depth (AOD) values during the 14 years were 0.44 and 0.47 during daytime and nighttime, respectively, with an overall decreasing trend, among which the AOD in spring in the southern border region and in winter in the northern border region showed high values, 0.66 and 0.31 during daytime and 0.69 and 0.33 during nighttime, respectively, and nighttime AOD values were higher than those of daytime, possibly due to the lower signal-to-noise ratio of the CALIPSO during the daytime than during the nighttime. (2) The primary representative aerosol type in the Taklamakan Desert region being pure sand and dust, and more apparent winter-polluted sand and dust exist along the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang in winter than in other areas. High-altitude soot mainly existed below 4 km and was primarily concentrated in northern Central Asia, with the highest values (0.016 and 0.003) in summer and winter, respectively, which may be due to different diffusion and transport conditions. (3) Dust aerosols in spring were mainly concentrated in the region of 2–6 km in the Taklamakan Desert area; pure dust particles in summer and fall lifted height diffusion and gradually moved to the northern border region; polluted dust was mainly in northern Xinjiang in fall and winter and spread to northern Central Asia; and the average top height of aerosols in the transmission process reached the top of the troposphere, and transmission height was higher than source area.