European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reposted this
Continuing long-range transport of #SaharanDust with high surface PM10 concentrations stretching from the W Africa coast across the Atlantic and Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico in the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring (CAMS) Service 5-day forecast initialized on 7 July at 00 UTC. It has been quite an active period for transatlantic mineral dust transport, with successive episodes since mid-June. More information on CAMS at https://lnkd.in/e6Fs2gGX Latest chart at https://lnkd.in/eQ2ZcXun Access the #opendata from https://lnkd.in/evhxgUqY Copernicus ECMWF European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Very interesting article. I wonder how this could impact air traffic since according Wikipedia, it happens up to 4500 meters (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saharan_air_layer#:~:text=The%20layer%20is%20transported%20westwards,14%2C800%20ft)%20above%20sea%20level.). Other articles mention this impact in countries I would never imagine (Germany https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/new-exceptionally-intense-saharan-dust-episode-through-western-europe and even Bulgaria, for example: https://aaqr.org/articles/aaqr-23-12-oa-0304)
Saharan dust plumes have both positive and negative effects. Climate: Solar Energy Alteration: The airborne particles in Saharan dust absorb and reflect sunlight, altering the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface1. Cloud and Storm Formation: Dust can promote or reduce cloud and storm formation, depending on other atmospheric conditions2. Modulation of Atmospheric Systems: The dust affects regional longwave and shortwave radiation, cloud formation, and convective systems over West Africa and the tropical Atlantic. It can lead to shifts in the intertropical convergence zone and tropical cyclone genesis region3. Ecological: Fertilization: Saharan dust fertilizes aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. When it settles on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, it provides nutrients to marine algae4. Soil Enrichment: Dust from Africa plays an important ecological role by fertilizing soils in the Amazon and building beaches in the Caribbean5. In summary, while Saharan dust can impact air quality and human health, it also contributes to vital ecological processes and influences global climate patterns. 1 nationalgeographic.com 2 naturalhazards.nasa.gov 3 jstor.org 4 theconversation.com 5 climate.nasa.gov 6 en.wikipedia.org
Persistent organic contaminants in Saharan dust air masses in West Africa, Cape Verde and the eastern Caribbean https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969713010036
What is the potential impact of this Mark P. ? Having seen it almost apocalyptically remove a mountain from view here in Switzerland, and cover streets, houses, cars with dust, I guess it‘s not good. What is the scientific view?
Chlorite, paligorskite, smectite, koalinite if I'm right (from memory).🌪️ One thing is quantity... the other, dust flux.
Thanks for the summary
Feeds GoM algal dead zone?
Did Beryl fit in between dust events?
Very informative!
Senior Scientist in the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service at ECMWF
2wUpdate with forecast from 15 July available at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mark-p-84643b185_saharandust-opendata-activity-7218691253062766595-Upl2