HR: 0830h
AN: A11E-0013    [PDF]
TI: Asian Dust from Vertical to Horizontal
AU: * Li, F
EM: fli@fiji.ucsd.edu
AU: Ramanathan, V
EM: vram@fiji.ucsd.edu
AB: Abstract Seasonal variations of the Southeast Asia dust plumes are analyzed with NOAA PathFinder data (from 1981-2001) for the optical depths, and with SAGE II data for the vertical profiles. The effective radius distributions of the dust plumes are examined with the Terra MODIS data. The results show that the Asian dust eruptions persist in March, Apr and May of a year. The monthly mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the regional area (30N-50N,120E-150E) peaks in April with values of ~ 0.3ñ0.05. Riding with seasonal atmospheric circulation the dust plumes loftily spread toward the North America. The vertical profile analysis indicates that the dust air mass could rush up to tropopause, higher than the currently realized range of 6~8km. 21-year AOD anomaly results show that the trend of difference from the yearly mean AOD (0.16) in the dust area basically follows the trend of global AOD anomaly, and therefore falls under volcano eruption influence. Characterization of those features will be a crucial step in the climate effect program.
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801)
DE: 0345 Pollution--urban and regional (0305)
DE: 4801 Aerosols (0305)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting