Influence of blocking effect of mountain and local front on two Asian-dust events observed at Mt. Haruna and Tsukuba in Kanto, Japan, in 2007

Aerosol number concentrations were continuously measured at sites at Tsukuba and Mt. Haruna on the Kanto region of Japan by using optical particle counters (OPCs) from February to June 2007. Three specific dust events captured at the sites were analyzed by using lidar, backward trajectories, and model simulation in detail. The temporal variations in aerosol concentrations in the two Asian-dust events (K1 event: 31 March–3 April; K2 event: 25–28 May) were similar. Dust particles (≥2.0 μm in diameter) were transported in association with a synoptic-scale cold front, and they arrived at the Tsukuba site about 8 h after they were observed at the Mt. Haruna site, in association with the dissipation of a local front formed ahead of the cold front. However, the inflow patterns of dust particles differed between the K1 and K2 events. The K1 event flowed onto the Kanto Plain, detouring around the mountainous region, whereas the K2 event directly flowed across the mountains. The difference in inflow pattern was probably due to the blocking effects of the mountains and the formation of a stable layer near the surface. Preceding the dust plume arrival, an increase in the number concentration of small-aerosol particles (0.3–1.0 μm in diameter), which are considered to be spherical by lidar, was observed, but only at the Tsukuba site. This increase was possibly due to anthropogenic pollution transported over long distances from the continent and from domestic sources in the Kanto region. The third event was a local dust event, because it was observed only at the Tsukuba site (on 13 and 14 March) under dry conditions (10 m s−1).

► The two Asian-dust events were observed behind a synoptic-scale cold front.
► Blocking effects of mountains and formation of stable layer dominated dust inflow.
► The dust was observed at Tsukuba after the dissipation of local front.
► An increase of small-aerosol concentration was observed at only the Tsukuba.
► The occurrence of dust was different between the Asian and the local dust events.