On the Geomorphic, Meteorological, and Hydroclimatic Drivers of the Unusual 2018 Early Summer Salt Dust Storms in Central Asia

Unprecedented salt dust storms in Central Asia's Aralkum Desert during early summer 2018 were linked to compounding weather hazards, driven by a slow-moving synoptic wave pattern across the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. These extreme events, characterized by widespread haze and salt deposition on croplands, were triggered by cold intrusions and strong postfrontal winds associated with a rapidly developing anticyclone over western Russia, enhanced by Scandinavian blocking. The study identifies dry lake beds and lower river floodplains as primary dust sources due to abundant fine-grain sediments, while major sandy deserts showed minimal activity. Enhanced aeolian sediment availability was attributed to below-average soil moisture and vegetation in summer 2018, linked to reduced winter precipitation caused by a double-dip Central Pacific La Niña episode. The research integrates geomorphic, meteorological, and hydroclimatic data to elucidate the drivers of these unusual dust storms.

Xi, X. (2023). On the Geomorphic, Meteorological, and Hydroclimatic Drivers of the Unusual 2018 Early Summer Salt Dust Storms in Central Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 128(10). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022jd038089