The Relationship between El Niño, La Niña, the Number of Dust-storm Days near the Gobi Desert, and Yellow-sand Events in Kyushu, Japan

Abstract

This paper focuses on the changes in the strength of upper cold air currents during El Niño and La Niña events as a factor affecting dust storms near the Gobi Desert and yellow sand transport to Japan. In springs of recent years, the number of yellow-sand events in Kyushu decreased during El Niño events and increased during La Niña events. This was observed in 2003 (El Niño) and in 2006 (La Niña). Stronger upper cold air currents made the temperature lapse rate greater, and atmospheric instability produced dust storms. In spring 2006 (La Niña), the strong upper cold air currents passed near the Gobi Desert many times, and this may have caused an increase in the number of dust-storm days in Mongolia. The number of dust-storm days in Mongolia and the number of yellow-sand events in Japan have shown a positive relationship since 2000.