科学｜黄砂飛来の理由と影響について / Science | Reasons and Effects of Yellow Sand Arrival

Summary

Starting from the 22nd, yellow dust is expected to spread across the country, with particularly dense concentrations likely to be observed in western Japan.

This year, due to the influence of warm air, yellow dust was recorded as early as January, resulting in an earlier-than-usual increase in its occurrence. This is attributed to a widening temperature difference caused by the meandering of the westerly winds. Additionally, the presence of yellow dust may worsen allergies, and with the arrival of spring, pollen levels are also expected to rise significantly.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Chako: Hey, Log, why is there so much yellow dust this year? I’m curious!
Log: This year, warm air is moving north, and low-pressure systems are occurring one after another, which is causing yellow dust to arrive earlier than usual. Particularly in western Japan, there’s a high likelihood of dense yellow dust being observed.
Chako: I see! But why is there less yellow dust in winter?
Log: In winter, high-pressure systems tend to linger and the cold is harsher, so there’s less sand being lifted into the air. That’s why it’s unusual for yellow dust to come this early, like it has this year.
Navi: Additionally, this year, the fluctuating westerlies have caused significant temperature differences, which has also affected the occurrence of yellow dust. This is considered a characteristic phenomenon of the year.

Admin’s Note

The news about this year’s yellow sand arrival strongly highlighted the impacts of climate change. It was reported that the movement of warm air northward is contributing to the earlier onset of yellow sand compared to previous years. For those suffering from allergies, the arrival of spring is a mixed blessing; while it brings joy, concerns about pollen and yellow sand also arise. We need to be mindful of how weather changes can affect our health. How is everyone planning to cope with this?