CASE STUDY OF ASIAN DUST EVENT ON MARCH 19-25, 2010 AND ITS IMPACT ON THE MARGINAL SEA OF CHINA

This study analyzes the most severe dust event in Taiwan in the last 20 years. The dust event occurred from March 19 to 25, 2010, with PM10 (particular matter less than 10 tun) reaching a maximum beyond 1200 mu g m(-3), and dust accounting for over 90% of the concentrations in Taiwan. The severe event originated from Mongolia on March 19, and the widespread dust moves southeastward toward Taiwan, with a thickness of 1 to 2 km near the ground. The concentrated dust layer can enhance phytoplankton bloom due to deposition of crustal nutrients, including iron. Over the marginal sea of China, the total deposition of soluble iron is estimated to be about 3926 mu g m(-2) during the event, and the chlorophyll-a concentrations over the East China Sea are enhanced by an average of approximately 0.6 mg m(-3) and 1.5 mg m(-3) in the first and second weeks, respectively, after the dust passage.