Comparative Analysis of Two Dust Weather Episodes Affecting Henan Province in 2023

Hu Xiaoling; Qin Yang; Kong Haijiang; Tian Li; Ming Liang; Wang Jianxin

doi:10.16765/j.cnki.1673-7148.2026.02.002

Abstract：Two dust weather episodes are studied in this paper based on hourly air quality data,LI-DAR monitoring data from Anyang National Climate Observatory,ERA5 reanalysis data,GDAS meteoro-logical data,and wind profiler radar data from Zhengzhou.The results indicate that the intensity of epi-sode 1(March 19-24,2023)is stronger than that of episode 2(April 9-13,2023).The concentra-tion of PM10 shows the characteristics of"rapid increase to rapid decline",and the time of serious air quality pollution is 14-28 hours in episode 1.The duration of serious air quality pollution in episode 2 is 29-58 hours,showing a bimodal characteristic.The two dust weather episodes are formed under the combined action of the Mongolian Cyclone and its rear cold high pressure.Compared with episode 1,the Mongolian cyclone and its rear cold and high pressure are weaker and the location of the Mongolian cy-clone is also slightly easterly in episode 2.The southeast air flow behind the maritime high pressure cau-ses the dust backflow southward to affect Henan twice in episode 2,which is the reason for the serious air pollution for a long time.In episode 1,the dust particles that caused the spike in PM10 concentration in Zhengzhou are mainly transported by the northeast path.In episodes 2,the dust particles that greatly af-fected the air quality in Zhengzhou are the northwest path and the southeast path.According to the com-prehensive analysis of the vertical evolution of Anyang LIDAR and the upstream topography,the dust par-ticles transported from the northwest path will be blocked by the Taihang Mountains or bypass the Taihang Mountains,enter from the lower terrain,resulting in the air quality of Xinxiang to reach serious pollution 5 hours later than that of Zhengzhou in episodes 2.There are high-altitude transmission of dust particles around 3600 m and 4200-4800 m over Anyang and the apparent increase of wind speed at different alti-tudes before two episodes,which indicates that the new observation data is essential to the prediction and early warning of dust weather in Henan.