Monitoring the sandstorm during spring season 2002 and desertification in northern China using SSM/I data and Getis statistics

摘要

A massive sandstorm enveloped most part of northern China during the spring season 2002. Monitoring the evolution of sandstorm and desertification has become one of the most serious problems for China's environment. Since 1989, one of the most advanced and operational passive microwave sensors is the DMSP SSM/I (special sensor microwave imager) operated at seven channels (19, 37, 85 GHz with the vertical and horizontal polarization and 22 GHz with vertical polarization only). In this paper, the sandstorm and desertification indexes, SDI and DI, are derived from the radiative transfer equation, and are employed with multi-channel measurements of the DMSP SSM/I for monitoring the sandstorm and desertification in northern China. Some SSM/I data in 1997 and 2001 are employed. The algorithm of Getis statistics is developed to categorize the spatial correlation and its evolution these days. It is demonstrated that the SSM/I indexes, SDI and DI, and its Getis statistics are well applicable for monitoring the sandstorm and desertification.