Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2065
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2065
23 Aug 2024
 | 23 Aug 2024
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

Dust storms transport proteinaceous matter from the Gobi Desert to Northern China

Ren-Guo Zhu, Hua-Yun Xiao, Meiju Yin, Hao Xiao, Zhongkui Zhou, Yuanyuan Pan, Guo Wei, and Cheng Liu

Abstract. Dust storms can greatly influence the ecosystem's productivity and biogeochemical nitrogen cycles by providing new nutrients. However, the transport of proteinaceous matter (combined amino acids, CAAs) by dust storms to downwind ecosystems remains unclear. Here, the concentrations and δ15N values of individual CAAs in Gobi surface soil and vegetation, as well as in PM2.5 samples from four cities in Northern China were characterized. Proline dominated the total pool of CAAs in urban PM2.5 during non-dust periods, whereas CAAs transported by Gobi dust were rich in alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid. The concentrations and percentages of these three CAAs in PM2.5 from Northern China notably increased during dust periods. During non-dust periods, the δ15N values of individual CAAs in urban PM2.5 fell within their respective ranges in local urban sources, suggesting CAAs in PM2.5 were primarily influenced by local urban sources during non-dust periods. Compared to their values in urban PM2.5 during non-dust periods, glycine and leucine in Gobi Desert sources exhibited δ15N depletion by more than 6‰. During dust periods, glycine and leucine in urban PM2.5 all exhibited negative shifts in their δ15N values, confirming that Gobi dust is a significant source of CAAs in PM2.5 in Northern China. The dry deposition of protein-N from Gobi dust was calculated using nitrogen isotopic mass balance based on the δ15N values of glycine and leucine, yielding a value of up to 0.36 mg N m-2 d-1. The rapid accumulation of such considerable protein-N quantities may profoundly affect oligotrophic ecosystem productivity.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Ren-Guo Zhu, Hua-Yun Xiao, Meiju Yin, Hao Xiao, Zhongkui Zhou, Yuanyuan Pan, Guo Wei, and Cheng Liu

Status: open (until 02 Jan 2025)

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  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2065', Anonymous Referee #1, 02 Oct 2024 reply
Ren-Guo Zhu, Hua-Yun Xiao, Meiju Yin, Hao Xiao, Zhongkui Zhou, Yuanyuan Pan, Guo Wei, and Cheng Liu
Ren-Guo Zhu, Hua-Yun Xiao, Meiju Yin, Hao Xiao, Zhongkui Zhou, Yuanyuan Pan, Guo Wei, and Cheng Liu

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Short summary
The concentrations and δ15N isotopic values of CAAs in surface soil and plants from the Gobi Desert, as well as in PM2.5 samples from four cities in Northern China were measured. CAAs transported by Gobi dust were rich in alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid. Glycine and leucine in Gobi Desert sources exhibited δ15N depletion by more than 6‰ compared to their values in urban PM2.5. Substantial protein-N deposition can be transported by the Gobi Desert to Northern China over brief periods.