干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

A dust event occurred in the Gobi Desert on 22-23 May 2013 due to strong wind reaching a speed of 16 m s(-1). The strong wind was caused by a developing low pressure system and a cold front. The vertical structures of the dust layer and cold frontal system were observed by a ceilometer installed at Dalanzadgad, Mongolia, which is located in the central part of the Gobi Desert. The dust layer had extended over the ground surface for 12 hours, and its top height reached 1.8 km above ground level (AGL). During the dust event, the cold front passed, and the cold air mass replaced the warm air mass. The top height of the cold air mass was less than 1.8 km AGL. In addition, the observational results suggest that some dust was transported from the atmospheric boundary layer to the free troposphere by the warm air ascending along the surface of the cold front.