As the initial link in the dust cycle, sand saltation directly determines the release of dust aerosols into the atmosphere. Suspended dust can modify meteorological conditions, potentially altering sand saltation characteristics, though this relationship requires further investigation. The recent deployment of automatic visibility sensors has provided new observational support for this study. Using hourly observations from five meteorological stations in the Taklamakan Desert during March–August 2016–2024, together with reanalysis data, this study estimated threshold wind speeds under different dust-intensity conditions, as indicated by horizontal visibility. We analyzed sand saltation frequency and horizontal dust flux across the region under varying visibility conditions, and reassessed recent trends and drivers of dust emission. Results indicate that threshold wind speeds range between 4.67 and 4.71 m·s−1, with a notable increase in wind speed when horizontal visibility falls below 5 km. Based on these thresholds, our analysis reveals significant regional differences in both dust emission frequency and flux under varying visibility conditions, with clear skies also identified as an important contributor to dust emission. Specifically, horizontal dust flux in the Taklamakan Desert showed a decreasing trend during 2016–2021 and a slight increase during 2021–2024, and this recent change in dust-emission trends may be linked to changes in atmospheric circulation and meteorological conditions. These findings provide a scientific basis for dust forecasting, early warning, disaster prevention, and mitigation in the Taklamakan Desert and its surrounding areas.
Li et al. (Fri,) studied this question.