Abstract
The Westward transport of mineral dust from the North Africa continent to Atlantic Ocean can produce poor air quality, low visibilities, and negatively impacting respiratory and cardiac health due to the optical and physical properties of aerosols. The dynamical impact of the sea-breeze on the dust vertical distribution in West Africa remains unknown. To investigate this issue, we have used in-situ measurements from lidar. We have focused on the attenuated backscatter of aerosols to study the effect of the local circulation on the vertical profile of mineral dust at land-sea transition. The results highlight a strong diurnal cycle of mineral dust associated with the nocturnal low-level jet (NLLJ). The jet is located between 500 m and 1000 m and crucially affected by the dynamic of the sea-breeze circulation.
Highlights
Desert aerosols from arid and semi-arid areas located in North Africa are suspended in the atmosphere
We have focused on the attenuated backscatter of aerosols to study the effect of the local circulation on the vertical profile of mineral dust at land-sea transition
The analysis of the aerosol profiles based on the attenuated backscatter shows a clear seasonal cycle with a heavy atmospheric dust loading located between 500 m and 1000 m asl
Summary
Desert aerosols from arid and semi-arid areas located in North Africa are suspended in the atmosphere. The mineral dust exported from the northern hemisphere represents almost one billion tons per year [1] corresponding to 70% of the aerosol mass annually lifted around the world and six times more than the second largest source, Asia [2]. Aerosols can negatively influence the human health through respiratory and cardiac diseases [4] [5] [6]. The World Health Organization evaluated the premature deaths, due to the atmospheric aerosol loading approximately 800,000 deaths each year
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