Characterizing Asian wind-dust transport to the northwest Pacific Ocean. Direct measurements of the dust flux for two years

Compositions of the atmospheric deposition are highly variable over the China Sea, with elevated dust flux (~40 g m^-2 yr^-1) and poor rainfall in winter and spring in comparison to abundant rainfall and low dust flux (~10 g m^-2yr^-1) in summer and autumn. However, atmospheric dust fallout from winter and in spring differs in pH and EF Ca values. Examination of data refines that the wind-dust from Siberia/Mongolia and Northwest China has significant impact upon the chemical composition and flux of atmospheric fallout over the China Sea, although anthropogenic influences on the rain/snow chemistry have been identified. Annual wind-dust flux to the China Sea is estimated at 53.7 g m^-2 yr^-1, which is one order of magnitude higher than that over the Central North Pacific Ocean. -from Authors