Dust aerosols modulate cloud radiative forcing with surface cooling and atmospheric warming across the Chinese mainland

Abstract

Dust aerosols, primarily originating from arid and semi-arid regions, exert substantial influence on cloud radiative forcing (CRF) by altering cloud microphysical properties and radiative transfer processes. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) was employed to quantify the impacts of dust aerosols on CRF over the Chinese mainland from 2000 to 2020. Scenario-based experiments indicated that dust aerosols reduce the cooling effect of shortwave CRF at both the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and the surface (SUR), with annual averages reduced by up to 0.20 ± 0.07 W m⁻² and 0.18 ± 0.07 W m⁻², respectively. Similarly, the heating effect of longwave CRF is weakened by up to 0.89 W m⁻² at SUR and 0.19 W m⁻² at TOA. Within the atmosphere, dust aerosols enhanced longwave heating by up to 0.71 W m⁻², although their effects on shortwave forcing are more variable. These effects are most pronounced in northern and southwestern China, with stronger impacts observed during spring and summer. The results offer critical insights into how dust aerosols shape regional radiative energy budgets.