GOES-Based Trends in Blowing Dust Initiation Across Southwestern North America, 2001–2020

Blowing dust is a significant hazard in southwestern North America, impacting air quality, visibility, and, consequently, human health and safety. Numerous studies have examined blowing dust in this region to better understand where, when, and how these events occur, as well as their impacts and long-term trends. Most of this research has relied on ground-based in situ observations or polar-orbiting satellite data. However, few have leveraged the high spatial and temporal resolution of geostationary satellite imagery. This study develops a 20-year record (2001–2020) of blowing dust events across southwestern North America using manually analyzed Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) infrared imagery. Human analysts identified dust plumes based on their spectral and spatiotemporal characteristics, and recorded their initiation times and locations. The analysis reveals a strong springtime peak in activity, regional hotspots such as northern Chihuahua, west Texas, and northwest Nevada, and elevated dust frequencies during major drought periods like 2002–2003 and 2011–2012. The resulting dataset provides a unique perspective on the geographic, seasonal, and interannual patterns of dust activity in the region. By consistently identifying when and where dust plumes initiate, this GOES-based record adds valuable temporal and spatial context that complements other surface- and satellite-based climatologies.