Monthly Temporal-Spatial Distribution of Sandstorms in China as Well as the Origin of Kosa in Japan and Korea
中国沙尘暴时空变化特征及日本、韩国黄沙的源地研究

Based on the available observation data from 681 meteorological stations in China during 1961-2000,the monthly temporal-spatial distribution of sandstorms indicates that sandstorms occur most frequently in the Tibetan Plateau(Qinghai-Xizang Plateau)and the arid and semi-arid areas in northern China. The center of sandstorms is in the Tibetan Plateau and gradually moves northward from December to March, however the center is in northern China during April to June and the most areas of sandstorms happen in April. Contrast of the monthly temporal-spatial distributions of sandstorms among China,Japan, and Korea shows that, in winter and spring, the majority of KOSA(yellow sand) in Japan, and Korea derive from the Tibetan Plateau and northern China respectively. And part of KOSA comes from the Qiangtang Plateau in spring as well. Sandstorms occur in different altitudes between the Tibetan Plateau and northern China, especially in springtime, the dust is transported by the vortex system in lower levels and by the planet westerlies in upper levels, which is one of the main causes of multi-layer structure of KOSA in Japan and Korea.