Homogenized century-long surface incident solar radiation over Japan

Surface incident solar radiation (Rs) plays an essential role in climate change on Earth. Rs can be directly measured, and it shows substantial variability, i.e., global dimming and brightening, on decadal scales. Rs can also be derived from the observed sunshine duration (SunDu) with reliable accuracy. The SunDu-derived Rs was used as a reference to detect and adjust the inhomogeneity in the observed Rs. However, both the observed Rs and SunDu-derived Rs may have inhomogeneity. In Japan, SunDu has been measured since 1890, and Rs has been measured since 1961 at ~100 stations. In this study, the observed Rs and SunDu-derived Rs were first checked for inhomogeneity with a statistical software RHtest. If confirmed by the metadata of these observations, the detected inhomogeneity was adjusted based on the RHtest-quantile matching method. Second, the two homogenized time series were compared to detect further possible inhomogeneity. If confirmed by the independent ground-based observations of cloud cover fraction, the detected inhomogeneity was adjusted based on the reference dataset. As a result, a sharp decrease in the observed Rs from 1961 to 1975 caused by instrument displacement was detected and adjusted. Similarly, a gradual decline in SunDu-derived Rs due to steady instrument replacement from 1985 to 1990 was detected and adjusted. After homogenization, the two estimates agree well. Rs was found to have increased at a rate of 0.9 W m−2 per decade (p < 0.01) from 1961 to 2015 based on the homogenized SunDu-derived Rs, which was enhanced by a positive aerosol-related radiative effect (2.2 W m−2 per decade) and diminished by a negative cloud cover radiative effect (−1.4 W m−2 per decade). The brightening over Japan was the strongest in spring, likely due to a significant decline in aerosol transported from Asian dust storms. The observed raw Rs data and their homogenized time series used in this study are available at https://doi.org/10.11888/Meteoro.tpdc.271524 (Ma et al., 2021).

Far-Flung Dust Storms Deliver Nutrient Boosts to North Pacific

Barren marine deserts bloom seasonally with iron infusions from Asian dust storms.

The Effects of PM2.5 from Asian Dust Storms on Emergency Room Visits for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases

A case-crossover study examined how PM2.5 from Asian Dust Storms (ADS) affects the number of emergency room (ER) admissions for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and respiratory diseases (RDs). Our data indicated that PM2.5 concentration from ADS was highly correlated with ER visits for CVDs and RDs. The odds ratios (OR) increased by 2.92 (95% CI: 1.22-5.08) and 1.86 (95% CI: 1.30-2.91) per increase 10 &micro;g/m3 in PM2.5 levels, for CVDs and RDs, respectively. A 10 &micro;g/m3 increase in PM2.5 from ADSs was significantly associated with increase in ER visits for CVDs among those 65 years of age and older (an increase of 2.77 in OR) and for females (an increase of 3.09 in OR). In contrast, PM2.5 levels had a significant impact on RD ER visits among those under 65 years of age (OR=1.77). The risk of ER visits for CVDs increased on the day when the ADS occurred in Taiwan and the day after (lag 0 and lag 1); the corresponding risk increase for RDs only increased on the fifth day after the ADS (lag 5). In Taiwan&rsquo;s late winter and spring, the severity of ER visits for CVDs and RDs increases. Environmental protection agencies should employ an early warning system for ADS to reduce high-risk groups&rsquo; exposure to PM2.5.