Development, progression, and impact on urban air quality of the dust storm in Asia in March 15–18, 2021

An intense dust storm on 15–18 March 2021 that originated from the central and southern parts of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia affected most of northern, central, and eastern China. The dust storm had a significant impact on air quality over an area of more than 1.4 million km 2 and threatened the lives of 350 million people. The analysis of the storm provided here is based on satellite, ground-based observations and reanalysis data. Satellite measurements showed that the maximum aerosol optical depth (AOD) values ranged from 2.4 to 4.5. In 42 Chinese cities, the mass average daily PM 10 concentrations exceeded 1000 μg/m 3 and the atmospheric visibility was reduced to 500–1000 m. Ordos and Jiayuguan had the highest hourly average PM 10 concentrations at over 9999 μg/m 3 , the maximum value for measurements. Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis showed maximum dust AOD values of 2.4. Data from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) found dust aerosols at an altitude of up to 12 km, and in many areas, the dust was found at an altitude between 0 and 4 km. A strong dust storm can result in a large amount of mineral aerosols of different sizes in the atmosphere that can significantly increase the heating rate of the atmosphere, subsequently affecting the regional dynamics of the atmosphere and the climate system as a whole. • Investigation of a severe dust storm in China. • The impacts of dust storm on characteristics of PM 10 and aerosol properties have been analyzed. • High aerosol pollution during a dust storm. • The highest hourly average PM10 concentrations in some cities were 9999 μg/m 3 .