The role of dust storms in total atmospheric particle concentrations at two sites in the western U.S.

Regional dust storms significantly elevate atmospheric particle concentrations, particularly those exceeding 10 µm in diameter, in arid and semiarid regions of the western U.S. A study at Mesa Verde National Park and Canyonlands National Park revealed that total suspended particle (TSP) concentrations can surge to over 200 µg m−3 during these events, with median particle sizes ranging from approximately 10 µm in winter to 40 µm in spring. Fine particles (≤2.5 µm) remained consistently below 10 µg m−3 across all years, indicating that coarse particles dominate TSP concentrations. The research analyzed continuous TSP records alongside fine and coarse particle measurements, highlighting the critical role of dust storms in shaping air quality dynamics from spring through fall.

Neff, J. C., Reynolds, R. L., Munson, S. M., Fernandez, D., & Belnap, J. (2013). The role of dust storms in total atmospheric particle concentrations at two sites in the western U.S. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 118(19). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50855