Modelling of the Saharan dust event

Abstract

We have coupled a non hydrostatic mesoscale model with a simple but comprehensive mineral aerosol source scheme. We present a simulation of a Saharan dust transport event (4 days), including mass uptake estimates, spectral 3D transport and dry deposition. The model is initialized with ECMWF data. Meteosat imagery is used to check the dust uptake and trajectory. The main results are: the estimates of dust uptake and fallout are realistic when compared with the few available literature data concerning the same region; some of the governing mechanisms of aerosol cycle (dust uptake and outbreak triggering) are illustrated; the location of the source areas agree with satellite IR imagery; the behavior of the dust plume (towards Mediterranean) agrees roughly with satellite VIS data too; the aerosol size spectrum becomes more and more narrow by loss of the largest fraction of particles, which could have an important effect on dust radiative properties.

Keywords

• dust uptake
• mediterranean
• outbreak triggering dust radiative properties