Extreme sandstorms: A nexus of climate, ecological, and economic forces

作者：Meng Zhang, Zhenzhong Zeng · 发表于：Nexus · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.ynexs.2025.100089 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Aeolian processes and effects、Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

In mid-April 2025, extreme winds accompanied by severe sandstorms impacted extensive regions of China, seriously impairing visibility and air quality, disrupting socio-economic activities, and posing risks to human health. This study analyzed the climatic, ecological, and economic drivers contributing to the formation of these sandstorms, identifying the recent resurgence of wind speed as a key factor in the increased frequency of extreme sandstorm events. Furthermore, the ecological degradation in the source areas of sandstorms has also played a remarkable role in exacerbating the situation. Under a warming future, extreme sandstorm events are likely to continue increasing in frequency. Global and regional cooperation is essential for mitigating climate change, adapting measures to local conditions, deploying green technologies, and monitoring the restoration status of the land. These measures contribute to protecting the ecology and vegetation of sand source areas and reducing the frequency of extreme sandstorm events. A severe sandstorm traversed extensive regions of eastern China, rekindling attention to this extreme event among policymakers and residents. We examined the changes in wind speed during this event, indicating the recent decade’s wind speed reversal as a pivotal factor in reversing the sandstorm frequency from a sustained decline between the 1970s and 2010s to an emerging upward trend. The deterioration of the ecological environment in the sand source areas o...