Abstract:Based on surface sand-dust and meteorological observation data, combined with remote sensing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the characteristics of sand-dust weather and its climatic causes in northern China during 2022 spring under the weak La Niña event were analyzed from underlying surface conditions and atmospheric circulation background. Results show that there were totally 8 sand-dust weather processes occurred in northern China in 2022 spring, which was generally weak and late. Because of the high air temperature and little rain in northern China in 2022 spring, most vegetation grew significantly poor in spite of its earlier regreen, which led to high surface exposure and thick dry soil layer, providing rich sand conditions for sand-dust weather. However, the 500 hPa height field between Ural Mountain and Baikal Lake and over the Chinese Mainland was positive anomalyin 2022 spring, which weakened the cold air from high latitude and resulted in lack of dynamic conditions to form a wide range of dust weather. In addition, the strength of the westerly wind near the main sand source decreased in April, and an abnormal easterly wind prevailed in May, also prevented the sand-dust particles transporting in the easterly direction. Consequently, the sand-dust weather occurrences in the northern region was significantly less than the multi-year averaged value. The positive anomaly of the 500 hPa height field was the most direct and important key factor for the less occurrence of sand-dust weathers in 2022 spring.