Asian Dust (also yellow dust, yellow sand, yellow wind or China dust storms) is a meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia year round but especially during the spring months. The dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia, northern China and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China,North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air quality as far east as the United States.

1. YELLOW DUST
BY SREEREMYA.S
ASS.PROF. SNGC

2. • Asian Dust (also yellow dust, yellow sand, yellow wind or China
dust storms) is a meteorological phenomenon which affects much
of East Asia year round but especially during the spring months.
The dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia, northern China
and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust
storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These
clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass
over China,North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of
the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are
carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air
quality as far east as the United States.
•

3. • Pollutants[edit]
• Sulfur (an acid rain component), soot, ash, carbon
monoxide, and other toxic pollutants including
heavy metals (such
as mercury, cadmium, chromium, arsenic,
lead, zinc, copper) and other carcinogens, often
accompany the dust storms, as well as viruses,
bacteria,
fungi, pesticides, antibiotics, asbestos, herbicides,
plastic ingredients, combustion products as well
as hormone mimicking phthalates.

4. • Though scientists have known that
intercontinental dust plumes can ferry
bacteria and viruses, "most people had
assumed that the [sun's] ultraviolet light
would sterilize these clouds," says
microbiologist Dale W. Griffin, also with the
USGS in St. Petersburg, "We now find that
isn't true."[1

5. • Effects[edit]
• Dust deposition in Beijing during the 2006 season.
• Areas affected by the dust experience decreased
visibility and the dust is known to cause a variety of
health problems, including sore throat and asthma in
otherwise healthy people. Often, people are advised to
avoid or minimize outdoor activities, depending on
severity of storms. For those already with asthma or
respiratory infections, it can be fatal. The dust has been
shown to increase the daily mortality rate in one
affected region by 1.7%

6. • Effects[edit]
• Dust deposition in Beijing during the 2006 season.
• Areas affected by the dust experience decreased
visibility and the dust is known to cause a variety of
health problems, including sore throat and asthma in
otherwise healthy people. Often, people are advised to
avoid or minimize outdoor activities, depending on
severity of storms. For those already with asthma or
respiratory infections, it can be fatal. The dust has been
shown to increase the daily mortality rate in one
affected region by 1.7%

7. • Severity[edit]
• Asian Dust obscures the sun overAizu-
Wakamatsu, Japan on April 2, 2007
• Shanghai on April 3, 2007 recorded an air quality
index of 500.[3] In the US, a 300 is considered
"Hazardous" and anything over 200 is
"Unhealthy". Desertification has intensified in
China, as 1,740,000 km² of land is "dry", it
disrupts the lives of 400 million people and
causes direct economic losses of 54 billion yuan
($7 billion) a year, SFA figures show.[4]