The mechanism of climate and vegetation change induced dust variations has been a phenomenal environmental concern in East Asia. However, the extent to which climate and vegetation cover separately affect the interannual variations of dust activity, is little known. Here in our study, the dust interannual variations and the contributions of climate and vegetation changes on dust variations were investigated and quantified through a regional climate model (RegCM4.9.5) and GeoDetector analysis. It is indicated that the dust aerosol optical depth, column burden and emission flux over East Asia all showed fluctuating downward trends followed by subsequent increases during 2000–2018. Climatic factors dominated the interannual variation of dust over East Asia, particularly the modulation of El Niño Southern Oscillation events. Vegetation improvement has occurred in most dust source regions across East Asia, playing a secondary yet positive role in dust variations, with an overall contribution rate of approximately 37 %. The spatial heterogeneity of dust variations in different regions was shaped by the effects of climate change and improved vegetation conditions.

中文翻译：

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厄尔尼诺南方涛动事件对东亚沙尘活动的年际变化有重大贡献


气候和植被变化引起的沙尘变化的机制一直是东亚的一个显著的环境问题。然而，气候和植被覆盖分别影响沙尘活动的年际变化的程度尚不清楚。在我们的研究中，通过区域气候模型 （RegCM4.9.5） 和 GeoDetector 分析研究和量化了沙尘的年际变化以及气候和植被变化对沙尘变化的贡献。结果表明，2000—2018 年东亚地区尘埃气溶胶光学厚度、柱负荷和发射通量均呈波动下降趋势，随后增加。气候因素主导了东亚沙尘的年际变化，特别是对厄尔尼诺南方涛动事件的调制。东亚大多数沙尘源地区都发生了植被改善，在沙尘变化中起着次要但积极的作用，总体贡献率约为 37%。不同地区沙尘变化的空间异质性受气候变化和植被条件改善的影响。