Modeling of observed mineral dust aerosols in the arctic and the impact on winter season low‐level clouds

Fan, Song‐Miao

doi:10.1002/jgrd.50842

Cited by 36 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 151 publications

(183 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, the high-latitude underestimation is more severe near the surface than at upper levels of the atmosphere. The low dust bias near high-latitude surface is also shown in the modeled dust concentration comparisons with ground observations at the Alert site (Fan, 2013; Figure S2 in the supporting information). Dust concentration in EAM v1 is about 1 order of magnitude lower than observations, whereas that in EAM v0 is more than 2 orders of magnitude lower.…”

Section: Dust Extinction Vertical Profilessupporting

confidence: 61%

Dust Radiative Effects on Climate by Glaciating Mixed‐Phase Clouds

Yang

Liu

2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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Mineral dust plays an important role in the primary formation of ice crystals in mixed‐phase clouds by acting as ice nucleating particles (INPs). It can influence the cloud phase transition and radiative forcing of mixed‐phase clouds, both of which are crucial to global energy budget and climate. In this study, we investigate the dust indirect effects on mixed‐phase clouds through heterogeneous ice nucleation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM). Dust and INP concentrations simulated from two versions of E3SM with three ice nucleation parameterizations were evaluated against observations in the Northern Hemisphere. Constrained by these observations, E3SM shows that dust INPs induce a global mean net cloud radiative effect of 0.05 to 0.26 W/m2 with the predominant warming appearing in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. However, a cooling effect is found in the Arctic due to reduced longwave cloud forcing.

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Section: Dust Extinction Vertical Profilessupporting

confidence: 61%

Dust Radiative Effects on Climate by Glaciating Mixed‐Phase Clouds

Yang

Liu

2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…First, according to the observations, our model is able to capture the mean dust concentration at station Alert. However, the distinct increase of dust concentrations observed in autumn is not captured in any of the 3 years of simulations, similar to other model simulations [ Fan , ]. Peak timing in the activity of dust sources varies per region [e.g., Bullard et al, ] and while some sources are active throughout the year, others distinctly peak in a particular season due to a combination of several factors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is thus likely that a local dust source, mostly active in autumn, is missing in simulations of dust surface concentrations at Alert. Also note that dust concentration values at Alert in autumn appear considerably smaller in a different observational data set for the years 2000 to 2006 [Fan, 2013].…”

Section: Transport Model Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 89%

Substantial contribution of northern high‐latitude sources to mineral dust in the Arctic

et al. 2016

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In the Arctic, impurities in the atmosphere and cryosphere can strongly affect the atmospheric radiation and surface energy balance. While black carbon has hence received much attention, mineral dust has been in the background. Mineral dust is not only transported into the Arctic from remote regions but also, possibly increasingly, generated in the region itself. Here we study mineral dust in the Arctic based on global transport model simulations. For this, we have developed a dust mobilization scheme in combination with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART. A model evaluation, based on measurements of surface concentrations and annual deposition at a number of stations and aircraft vertical profiles, shows the suitability of this model to study global dust transport. Simulations indicate that about 3% of global dust emission originates from high‐latitude dust sources in the Arctic. Due to limited convection and enhanced efficiency of removal, dust emitted in these source regions is mostly deposited closer to the source than dust from for instance Asia or Africa. This leads to dominant contributions of local dust sources to total surface dust concentrations (~85%) and dust deposition (~90%) in the Arctic region. Dust deposition from local sources peaks in autumn, while dust deposition from remote sources occurs mainly in spring in the Arctic. With increasing altitude, remote sources become more important for dust concentrations as well as deposition. Therefore, total atmospheric dust loads in the Arctic are strongly influenced by Asian (~38%) and African (~32%) dust, whereas local dust contributes only 27%. Dust loads are thus largest in spring when remote dust is efficiently transported into the Arctic. Overall, our study shows that contributions of local dust sources are more important in the Arctic than previously thought, particularly with respect to surface concentrations and dust deposition.

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“…In some cases this may be due to the vastness of the uninhabited areas of the northern Arctic and Antarctica; in other cases it may be that dust was detected but not attributed to local sources due to lack of awareness of dust originating from high latitudes. For example, while reexamining data collected in North Canada during the 1970s and 1980s [ Barrie , ; Barrie and Barrie , ] for a study on intercontinental aerosol transport, Fan [] noted an unexplained increase in dust observations at Alert, Canada (82°30′05″N, 62°20′20″W) during the fall months. It is likely that the fall peak at Alert and at other locations in Alaska was caused by local dust entrainment [ Polissar et al , ; Stone et al , ].…”

Section: Challenges In Understanding and Quantifying High‐latitude Dustmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐latitude dust in the Earth system

et al. 2016

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Natural dust is often associated with hot, subtropical deserts, but significant dust events have been reported from cold, high latitudes. This review synthesizes current understanding of high‐latitude (≥50°N and ≥40°S) dust source geography and dynamics and provides a prospectus for future research on the topic. Although the fundamental processes controlling aeolian dust emissions in high latitudes are essentially the same as in temperate regions, there are additional processes specific to or enhanced in cold regions. These include low temperatures, humidity, strong winds, permafrost and niveo‐aeolian processes all of which can affect the efficiency of dust emission and distribution of sediments. Dust deposition at high latitudes can provide nutrients to the marine system, specifically by contributing iron to high‐nutrient, low‐chlorophyll oceans; it also affects ice albedo and melt rates. There have been no attempts to quantify systematically the expanse, characteristics, or dynamics of high‐latitude dust sources. To address this, we identify and compare the main sources and drivers of dust emissions in the Northern (Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Iceland) and Southern (Antarctica, New Zealand, and Patagonia) Hemispheres. The scarcity of year‐round observations and limitations of satellite remote sensing data at high latitudes are discussed. It is estimated that under contemporary conditions high‐latitude sources cover >500,000 km2 and contribute at least 80–100 Tg yr−1 of dust to the Earth system (~5% of the global dust budget); both are projected to increase under future climate change scenarios.

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Modeling of observed mineral dust aerosols in the arctic and the impact on winter season low‐level clouds

Cited by 36 publications

References 151 publications

Dust Radiative Effects on Climate by Glaciating Mixed‐Phase Clouds

Dust Radiative Effects on Climate by Glaciating Mixed‐Phase Clouds

Substantial contribution of northern high‐latitude sources to mineral dust in the Arctic

High‐latitude dust in the Earth system

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