The long-range transport of mineral aerosols: group report

Abstract

The paper concentrates on the cycle of sources, transport and deposition of dust. The arid and semi-arid regions of the world are the major sources of atmospheric dust, and depend on the production of fine grain material by weathering, the mobilisation of this material from the surface and the mixing processes that carry the dust up into the free atmosphere. Transport processes can be studied with both trajectory analysis and long-range transport models. Source-specific tracers and modification during transport must be taken into account, and deposition to land and the oceans is discussed. Deep sea sediments undoubtedly contain a strong and varied aeolian signal that must be linked with climatic processes. At present, it is difficult to interpret this signal. The conclusion of the group was that it was time to begin planning an intensive LRT field experiment in West Africa and over the tropical northern Atlantic. -J.F.Austin