干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Directly measuring the dust concentration during a dust storm is very important for studying dust emission and wind erosion processes. The Mira visibility sensors were introduced for directly measuring dust concentrations over desert and cropland during dust storm events. The output of the sensor was compared with that of optical particle counter. We found that the Mira visibility sensors can directly measure the particle numbers concentrations. Characteristics of dust concentrations at the two ground surfaces during dust storms were analyzed. By using the Mira visibility sensors and optical particle counters and other meteorological elements in Dunhuang, China, dust emission processes and characteristics over desert and oasis during dust storms was discussed.