Saharan dust transport and deposition towards the tropicalnorthern Atlantic

We present a study of Saharan dust export towards the tropical North Atlantic using the regional dust emission, transport and deposition model LM-MUSCAT. Horizontal and vertical distribution of dust optical thickness, concentration, and dry and wet deposition rates are used to describe seasonality o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Schepanski, K., Tegen, I., MacKe, A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Göttingen : Copernicus 2009
Subjects:
aerosol property
atmospheric deposition
atmospheric transport
dust
numerical model
optical depth
particulate flux
suspended particulate matter
vertical distribution
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean North
Cape Verde
550
North Cape
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.34657/4078
https://oa.tib.eu/renate/handle/123456789/5449
Description
Summary:We present a study of Saharan dust export towards the tropical North Atlantic using the regional dust emission, transport and deposition model LM-MUSCAT. Horizontal and vertical distribution of dust optical thickness, concentration, and dry and wet deposition rates are used to describe seasonality of dust export and deposition towards the eastern Atlantic for three typical months in different seasons. Deposition rates strongly depend on the vertical dust distribution, which differs with seasons. Furthermore the contribution of dust originating from the Bod́eĺe Depression to Saharan dust over the Atlantic is investigated. A maximum contribution of Bod́eĺe dust transported towards the Cape Verde Islands is evident in winter when the Bod́eĺe source area is most active and dominant with regard to activation frequency and dust emission. Limitations of using satellite retrievals to estimate dust deposition are highlighted.

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