Quantifying the contributions of natural and anthropogenic dust sources in Shanxi Province, northern China

Dust storms have direct or indirect impacts on climate change and human health. Identifying and quantifying natural/anthropogenic dust sources can facilitate effective prevention and control of dust events. Based on surface real-time PM10 monitoring data, satellite remote sensing and the HYSPLIT model, this study determined the specific timing, coverage and sources of dust events in Shanxi Province, Northern China. Thus, a composite fingerprinting technique was established to quantify potential dust sources and dust contributions of single dust events. The dust oxidation model was validated, indicating that the composite fingerprinting technique was well suited to the study region. The results show that natural dust sources (67%) contributed more to the study region than anthropogenic dust sources. They were mainly from the northwest and north of the study region. Particularly, the contributions of Taiyuan (TY) and Linfen (LF) accounted for the largest (82%) and smallest (55%) proportions, respectively, both exceeding 50%. Anthropogenic dust sources contributed 33%, mainly from the east and south of the study region. The contribution of anthropogenic dust sources increased in the study region from north to south. In terms of potential dust sources, the Tengger Desert and Badain Jaran Desert (TDBD) contributed the most (26%), followed by the Otindag Sandy Land (OL) (22%). The Taklimakan Desert (TD) contributed the least (2%). The Middle Farmland region of the Hexi Corridor (HMF) in the west (15%) had the largest proportion of anthropogenic dust sources. Differences in the regional contribution of potential dust sources mainly resulted from winter winds, surface drought severity and particle size. At an insignificant distance from the study region, the contribution of potential dust sources was larger in the west than in the east and increased from south to north overall. These methods and findings can contribute to improving the ecological environment in Northern China.