EFFECTS OF 2 DUST STORMS ON SOLAR-RADIATION IN THE BEIJING-TIANJIN AREA

AVHRR albedo data obtained from the NOAA-11 satellite and chemical data for aerosol particle samples collected in Beijing were interpreted together with meteorological data to study the radiative effects of Asian dust. Compared with the clear-sky background, the albedo values for the Beijing area during two dust storms in April 1993 increased by 20 to 125%; the direct solar radiation flux at the surface decreased; and the scattered radiation flux at the surface increased. The total solar radiation flux at the ground during the two dust storms decreased by 40% and 10% respectively. Furthermore, the extent of the changes was related to the strength of the dust storms. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of using satellite data to study the radiative forcing of dust storms.