On the variability of African dust transport across the Atlantic

N. Riemer, O. M. Doherty, S. Hameed

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigate the interannual variability of Saharan dust transport over the Atlantic by using the TOMS/ Nimbus-7 and TOMS/Earth Probe daily aerosol data. We focus on the winter season, and on the area off the North-West African coast (15-30°N, 30-5°W). Previous studies have suggested that the variability of the Saharan dust can be partially explained by the North Atlantic Oscillation. In an alternative approach, we correlate the aerosol data with the positions and the surface pressure values of the two "Centers of Action" in the Atlantic, the Azores High and the Icelandic Low. This approach decouples the two semi-permanent pressure systems, and it reveals that the Icelandic Low does not play a role in the dust concentration for our region of interest. Instead, the position of the Azores High turns out to be the most important factor, with the Azores High latitude yielding the highest correlation (r = 0.48).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL13814
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume33
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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