An observationally constrained estimate of global dust aerosol optical depth
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Ridley-2016-An observationally constrained est.pdf
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Author(s)
Kok, Jasper F.
Zhao, Chun
Ridley, David Andrew
Heald, Colette L.
Date Issued
December 2016
Journal
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Citation
Ridley, David A., Colette L. Heald, Jasper F. Kok, and Chun Zhao. “An Observationally Constrained Estimate of Global Dust Aerosol Optical Depth.” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 16, no. 23 (December 6, 2016): 15097–15117.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The role of mineral dust in climate and ecosystems has been largely quantified using global climate and chemistry model simulations of dust emission, transport, and deposition. However, differences between these model simulations are substantial, with estimates of global dust aerosol optical depth (AOD) that vary by over a factor of 5. Here we develop an observationally based estimate of the global dust AOD, using multiple satellite platforms, in situ AOD observations and four state-of-the-science global models over 2004–2008. We estimate that the global dust AOD at 550 nm is 0.030 ± 0.005 (1σ), higher than the AeroCom model median (0.023) and substantially narrowing the uncertainty. The methodology used provides regional, seasonal dust AOD and the associated statistical uncertainty for key dust regions around the globe with which model dust schemes can be evaluated. Exploring the regional and seasonal differences in dust AOD between our observationally based estimate and the four models in this study, we find that emissions in Africa are often overrepresented at the expense of Asian and Middle Eastern emissions and that dust removal appears to be too rapid in most models.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15097-2016
