Abstract
AbstractThe drivers of dust emission interannual variability in North Africa, the largest dust source on Earth, are still debated. Early studies outlined the role of previous‐season rainfall and vegetation growth, while some recent studies emphasize the role of wind variability. Here we use a newly developed estimation of dry‐season nonphotosynthetic vegetation cover in the Sahel based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) short‐wave infrared bands over the 2002–2015 period. The vegetation growth anomalies caused by variability of rainfall in June–September translate to anomalies of dry vegetation cover that persist throughout the dry season until May. These vegetation anomalies explain 43% (50%) of the year‐to‐year variance in Sahelian‐mean dry‐season aerosol optical depth (AOD) as derived from MODIS Deep Blue (Sun photometers). Similar explained variance is found with 10 m wind speed and dust uplift potential. The central Sahel proves more important than the western Sahel for dry‐season AOD variability.
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