Changes of electric field, aerosol, and wind covariance in different blowing dust days in West Texas

Abstract

Blowing dust events are common meteorological phenomena that can influence the atmospheric vertical electric field (E_z). In this work we examine different local blowing dust days in Lubbock, Texas in order to understand their impact on the local vertical electric field, and the relationships of the vertical E_z to horizontal wind speeds, visibility, relative humidity, temperature and PM_2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm). All blowing dust days had an increase in E_z, but they did not generate similar E_z patterns. Several of the blowing dust days had an expected increase in E_z with a reduction of visibility and an increase in PM_2.5, wind speed, or wind gusts. But others were more complex without a direct relationship between E_z and PM_2.5. Variability of E_z at different time scales was examined, including correlation tests with wind speed, visibility, PM_2.5, temperature, or relative humidity for each blowing dust event and overall. The complexity found, including a decorrelation time scale between wind speeds and E_z at relatively high frequencies, emphasizes the sensitivity of the dust events in this region and the dependence on the analysis interval used in this study.