Yellow dust: an overview of research and felt needs

Yellow dust from the arid lands of China is a seasonal phenomenon, threatening human health, transport and industries in China, Japan and Korea. The increased incidence of the dust-blowing activity in recent decades, and a greater awareness of the problem have turned this phenomenon into a major debating point and a serious environmental issue between the three nations. Several aspects of yellow dust have been studied in detail, but most of these are either self-contained, address a specific component of the issue, or are directed towards searching answers to academic questions. We provide an overview of the recent English language literature on the subject, and suggest a holistic approach to the sequence, starting with driving forces, pressures that lead to dust emission, atmospheric transport and the transformation of the dust, and its impact on society.