Vertical Distribution of Dust Aerosol Under Conditions of Weak and Moderate Winds

Abstract

Abstract The height distribution of dust aerosol in the surface layer based on the measurements made in the summer of 2020–2021 under arid conditions on the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia is considered. For the profiles of the aerosol concentration under conditions of weak winds, a characteristic gradual slope with an index close to the value of –0.5 is recorded. When the wind strengthens, the profile slope takes on values closer to the degrees known for the conditions of saltation –0.7…–1.0 (and steeper). The observed patterns can be explained by the character of motion of dust particles rising from the hot surface together with the surrounding heated air volume that differs for the fine (<1 μm) and coarse (>1 μm) particle fractions.