Analysis of the relationship between dust aerosol and precipitation in spring over East Asia using EOF and SVD methods

This study utilized the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) methods to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns and trends of dust aerosol and precipitation, and to identify the coupled modes between them. The research employed MODIS and CALIPSO retrieved dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD) data to represent dust aerosol information and CMORPH data to provide precipitation information. The results indicated that specific dust source regions were associated with the primary modes of spring dust in East Asia, while atmospheric circulation and land-sea monsoon were closely related to the primary modes of spring precipitation. Additionally, the study revealed that the impact of dust aerosol on precipitation varied based on the source region within the coupled modes. The first coupled mode, with dust sources in the Mongolian Gobi and Taklamakan Desert, demonstrated a pattern of increased dust aerosol and reduced precipitation in most regions. The second coupled mode, with dust sources focused on the Mongolian Gobi, exhibited a consistent pattern of increased dust aerosol and a significant increase in precipitation in northern China. This study highlights the significance of considering dust source regions when examining the relationship between dust aerosol and precipitation, providing new insights into the potential impact of dust aerosol on precipitation in East Asia during the spring.