This study investigates the seasonal climatology of the three-dimensional distribution and transport pathways of dust aerosols over West Asia (WA). Dust column loading over WA exhibits strong seasonality, with markedly high (weak) loading during summer (winter). The summer dust features over WA include the (i) dust reaching up to the 500 hPa level between the Red Sea (RS) and the west coast of the Indian subcontinent (IS); (ii) a slantwise advection of dust aerosols between 850 and 700 hPa levels over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) and Arabian Sea (AS); and (iii) a prominent mid-tropospheric zonal transport of AP dust toward the IS. Maximum column integrated horizontal dust mass flux (DMF) over WA is observed in summer. The intraday changes in the intensity and spatial spread of the DMF over the AP are mediated by the out-of-phase evolution of the surface winds and low-level Shamal jets. Furthermore, the diurnal changes in the strength of the inversion layers located above the monsoon boundary layer and associated wind shear regulate the spatial patterns and intensity of the DMF over the AS. The findings will support future studies aiming at quantifying the radiative effects of dust on the regional climate.

本研究调查了西亚（WA）沙尘气溶胶三维分布和传输路径的季节性气候学。西澳上空的尘柱负荷表现出强烈的季节性，夏季（冬季）负荷显着高（弱）。西澳夏季沙尘特征包括 (i) 红海 (RS) 和印度次大陆 (IS) 西海岸之间高达 500 hPa 水平的沙尘；(ii) 阿拉伯半岛 (AP) 和阿拉伯海 (AS) 上空 850 至 700 hPa 水平的尘埃气溶胶倾斜平流；(iii) AP 尘埃向 IS 的显着的对流层中部纬向输送。夏季观测到 WA 上空的最大柱综合水平尘埃质量通量 (DMF)。DMF 在 AP 上的强度和空间分布的日内变化是由地表风和低空 Shamal 射流的异相演化介导的。此外，位于季风边界层上方的逆温层强度的日变化和相关的风切变调节了 AS 上 DMF 的空间格局和强度。这些发现将支持未来旨在量化尘埃对区域气候的辐射影响的研究。