Temporal and spatial variations of dust deposition along a Red Sea coastal section

• Main Authors: Shevchenko, Illia, Engelbrecht, Johann, Mostamandi, Suleiman, Stenchikov, Georgiy L.
• Other Authors: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, Earth Science and Engineering Program, Desert Research Institute (DRI), Reno, Nevada 89512-1095, U.S.A.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Submitted to European Geosciences Union 2020
• Subjects: Aerosol Robotic Network
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10754/664978

Wind-blown mineral dust as significant contributor of the atmospheric aerosols involved in multiple chemical and physical processes occurring in the atmosphere. Some of this processes and those impact in global energy budget, climatology, biogeochemical cycles, and health are known – other are the subject for the future research. This work represents study of the mineral dust deposition samples collected around King Abdullah University Science and Technology (KAUST) campus from 2014 to 2019. 442 samples were collected and processed in 56 month sampling period. New sites for the frisbee type samplers were installed in different environmental domain, like islands in the Red sea and elevated roof top. Processing the samples is improved in comparison with previously described procedures ( Engelbrecht et al., 2017). Sieving (56µm) was implemented for new samples starting May 2019 and for 38 previously processed samples. Gravimetric data and XRD mineral analyses result represented for listed samples. Particle size distribution analyses performed for listed samples with help of benchtop Malvern Mastersizer 3000® Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (LPSA). Deposition data and size distribution of the samples compared with AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) measurement from KAUST campus site. Results of the Gravimetric measurements, XRD mineral analysis and size distribution applied for intercomparison of sampling sites and efficiency of the used procedures in different local environmental obstacles and time period of the year. This research, including the mineralogical analysis is supported by internal funding from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). We acknowledge the contributions from the collaborating Core Labs at KAUST and the Desert Research Institute. This research is supported by the Supercomputing Laboratory at KAUST.