Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations

C. L. Ryder; J. B. McQuaid; C. Flamant; P. D. Rosenberg; R. Washington; H. E. Brindley; E. J. Highwood; J. H. Marsham; D. J. Parker; M. C. Todd; J. R. Banks; J. K. Brooke; S. Engelstaedter; V. Estelles; P. Formenti; L. Garcia-Carreras; C. Kocha; F. Marenco; H. Sodemann; C. J T Allen; A. Bourdon; M. Bart; C. Cavazos-Guerra; S. Chevaillier; J. Crosier; E. Darbyshire; A. R. Dean; J. R. Dorsey; J. Kent; D. O'Sullivan; K. Schepanski; K. Szpek; J. Trembath; A. Woolley

doi:10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015

Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations

C. L. Ryder^*
, J. B. McQuaid
, C. Flamant
, P. D. Rosenberg
, R. Washington
, H. E. Brindley
, E. J. Highwood
, J. H. Marsham
, D. J. Parker
, M. C. Todd
, J. R. Banks
, J. K. Brooke
, S. Engelstaedter
, V. Estelles
, P. Formenti
, L. Garcia-Carreras
, C. Kocha
, F. Marenco
, H. Sodemann
, C. J T Allen

A. Bourdon, M. Bart, C. Cavazos-Guerra, S. Chevaillier, J. Crosier, E. Darbyshire, A. R. Dean, J. R. Dorsey, J. Kent, D. O'Sullivan, K. Schepanski, K. Szpek, J. Trembath, A. Woolley

^*Corresponding author for this work

The University of Reading
University of Leeds
National Centre for Atmospheric Science
Sorbonne Université
Imperial College London
University of Sussex
Met Office
Oxford University
Universidad de la Laguna
Universitat de Valencia
Universite Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC) Val De Marne
Institut de la Vision
ETH Zurich (Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich)
University of Bergen
SAFIRE
Aeroqual Ltd
Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)
Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement
Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research
Oxford University
National Centre for Atmospheric Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

357 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The Fennec climate programme aims to improve understanding of the Saharan climate system through a synergy of observations and modelling. We present a description of the Fennec airborne observations during 2011 and 2012 over the remote Sahara (Mauritania and Mali) and the advances in the understanding of mineral dust and boundary layer processes they have provided. Aircraft instrumentation aboard the UK FAAM BAe146 and French SAFIRE (Service des Avions Français Instrumentés pour la Recherche en Environnement) Falcon 20 is described, with specific focus on instrumentation specially developed for and relevant to Saharan meteorology and dust. Flight locations, aims and associated meteorology are described. Examples and applications of aircraft measurements from the Fennec flights are presented, highlighting new scientific results delivered using a synergy of different instruments and aircraft. These include (1) the first airborne measurement of dust particles sizes of up to 300 microns and associated dust fluxes in the Saharan atmospheric boundary layer (SABL), (2) dust uplift from the breakdown of the nocturnal low-level jet before becoming visible in SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible Infra-Red Imager) satellite imagery, (3) vertical profiles of the unique vertical structure of turbulent fluxes in the SABL, (4) in situ observations of processes in SABL clouds showing dust acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) at -15 °C, (5) dual-aircraft observations of the SABL dynamics, thermodynamics and composition in the Saharan heat low region (SHL), (6) airborne observations of a dust storm associated with a cold pool (haboob) issued from deep convection over the Atlas Mountains, (7) the first airborne chemical composition measurements of dust in the SHL region with differing composition, sources (determined using Lagrangian backward trajectory calculations) and absorption properties between 2011 and 2012, (8) coincident ozone and dust surface area measurements suggest coarser particles provide a route for ozone depletion, (9) discrepancies between airborne coarse-mode size distributions and AERONET (AERosol Robotic NETwork) sunphotometer retrievals under light dust loadings. These results provide insights into boundary layer and dust processes in the SHL region - a region of substantial global climatic importance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8479-8520
Number of pages	42
Journal	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume	15
Issue number	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015
Publication status	Published - 30 Jul 2015

Access to Document

10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015

acp-15-8479-2015Final published version, 9.39 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Ryder, C. L., McQuaid, J. B., Flamant, C., Rosenberg, P. D., Washington, R., Brindley, H. E., Highwood, E. J., Marsham, J. H., Parker, D. J., Todd, M. C., Banks, J. R., Brooke, J. K., Engelstaedter, S., Estelles, V., Formenti, P., Garcia-Carreras, L., Kocha, C., Marenco, F., Sodemann, H., ... Woolley, A. (2015). Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 15(14), 8479-8520. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015

@article{2ce87fe431364aa1996b0e9e4ff313de,

title = "Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations",

abstract = "The Fennec climate programme aims to improve understanding of the Saharan climate system through a synergy of observations and modelling. We present a description of the Fennec airborne observations during 2011 and 2012 over the remote Sahara (Mauritania and Mali) and the advances in the understanding of mineral dust and boundary layer processes they have provided. Aircraft instrumentation aboard the UK FAAM BAe146 and French SAFIRE (Service des Avions Fran{\c c}ais Instrument{\'e}s pour la Recherche en Environnement) Falcon 20 is described, with specific focus on instrumentation specially developed for and relevant to Saharan meteorology and dust. Flight locations, aims and associated meteorology are described. Examples and applications of aircraft measurements from the Fennec flights are presented, highlighting new scientific results delivered using a synergy of different instruments and aircraft. These include (1) the first airborne measurement of dust particles sizes of up to 300 microns and associated dust fluxes in the Saharan atmospheric boundary layer (SABL), (2) dust uplift from the breakdown of the nocturnal low-level jet before becoming visible in SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible Infra-Red Imager) satellite imagery, (3) vertical profiles of the unique vertical structure of turbulent fluxes in the SABL, (4) in situ observations of processes in SABL clouds showing dust acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) at -15 °C, (5) dual-aircraft observations of the SABL dynamics, thermodynamics and composition in the Saharan heat low region (SHL), (6) airborne observations of a dust storm associated with a cold pool (haboob) issued from deep convection over the Atlas Mountains, (7) the first airborne chemical composition measurements of dust in the SHL region with differing composition, sources (determined using Lagrangian backward trajectory calculations) and absorption properties between 2011 and 2012, (8) coincident ozone and dust surface area measurements suggest coarser particles provide a route for ozone depletion, (9) discrepancies between airborne coarse-mode size distributions and AERONET (AERosol Robotic NETwork) sunphotometer retrievals under light dust loadings. These results provide insights into boundary layer and dust processes in the SHL region - a region of substantial global climatic importance.",

author = "Ryder, \{C. L.\} and McQuaid, \{J. B.\} and C. Flamant and Rosenberg, \{P. D.\} and R. Washington and Brindley, \{H. E.\} and Highwood, \{E. J.\} and Marsham, \{J. H.\} and Parker, \{D. J.\} and Todd, \{M. C.\} and Banks, \{J. R.\} and Brooke, \{J. K.\} and S. Engelstaedter and V. Estelles and P. Formenti and L. Garcia-Carreras and C. Kocha and F. Marenco and H. Sodemann and Allen, \{C. J T\} and A. Bourdon and M. Bart and C. Cavazos-Guerra and S. Chevaillier and J. Crosier and E. Darbyshire and Dean, \{A. R.\} and Dorsey, \{J. R.\} and J. Kent and D. O'Sullivan and K. Schepanski and K. Szpek and J. Trembath and A. Woolley",

year = "2015",

month = jul,

day = "30",

doi = "10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "8479--8520",

journal = "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics",

issn = "1680-7316",

publisher = "Copernicus Publications",

number = "14",

}

Ryder, CL, McQuaid, JB, Flamant, C, Rosenberg, PD, Washington, R, Brindley, HE, Highwood, EJ, Marsham, JH, Parker, DJ, Todd, MC, Banks, JR, Brooke, JK, Engelstaedter, S, Estelles, V, Formenti, P, Garcia-Carreras, L, Kocha, C, Marenco, F, Sodemann, H, Allen, CJT, Bourdon, A, Bart, M, Cavazos-Guerra, C, Chevaillier, S, Crosier, J, Darbyshire, E, Dean, AR, Dorsey, JR, Kent, J, O'Sullivan, D, Schepanski, K, Szpek, K, Trembath, J & Woolley, A 2015, 'Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations', Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 15, no. 14, pp. 8479-8520. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015

TY - JOUR

T1 - Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations

AU - Ryder, C. L.

AU - McQuaid, J. B.

AU - Flamant, C.

AU - Rosenberg, P. D.

AU - Washington, R.

AU - Brindley, H. E.

AU - Highwood, E. J.

AU - Marsham, J. H.

AU - Parker, D. J.

AU - Todd, M. C.

AU - Banks, J. R.

AU - Brooke, J. K.

AU - Engelstaedter, S.

AU - Estelles, V.

AU - Formenti, P.

AU - Garcia-Carreras, L.

AU - Kocha, C.

AU - Marenco, F.

AU - Sodemann, H.

AU - Allen, C. J T

AU - Bourdon, A.

AU - Bart, M.

AU - Cavazos-Guerra, C.

AU - Chevaillier, S.

AU - Crosier, J.

AU - Darbyshire, E.

AU - Dean, A. R.

AU - Dorsey, J. R.

AU - Kent, J.

AU - O'Sullivan, D.

AU - Schepanski, K.

AU - Szpek, K.

AU - Trembath, J.

AU - Woolley, A.

PY - 2015/7/30

Y1 - 2015/7/30

N2 - The Fennec climate programme aims to improve understanding of the Saharan climate system through a synergy of observations and modelling. We present a description of the Fennec airborne observations during 2011 and 2012 over the remote Sahara (Mauritania and Mali) and the advances in the understanding of mineral dust and boundary layer processes they have provided. Aircraft instrumentation aboard the UK FAAM BAe146 and French SAFIRE (Service des Avions Français Instrumentés pour la Recherche en Environnement) Falcon 20 is described, with specific focus on instrumentation specially developed for and relevant to Saharan meteorology and dust. Flight locations, aims and associated meteorology are described. Examples and applications of aircraft measurements from the Fennec flights are presented, highlighting new scientific results delivered using a synergy of different instruments and aircraft. These include (1) the first airborne measurement of dust particles sizes of up to 300 microns and associated dust fluxes in the Saharan atmospheric boundary layer (SABL), (2) dust uplift from the breakdown of the nocturnal low-level jet before becoming visible in SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible Infra-Red Imager) satellite imagery, (3) vertical profiles of the unique vertical structure of turbulent fluxes in the SABL, (4) in situ observations of processes in SABL clouds showing dust acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) at -15 °C, (5) dual-aircraft observations of the SABL dynamics, thermodynamics and composition in the Saharan heat low region (SHL), (6) airborne observations of a dust storm associated with a cold pool (haboob) issued from deep convection over the Atlas Mountains, (7) the first airborne chemical composition measurements of dust in the SHL region with differing composition, sources (determined using Lagrangian backward trajectory calculations) and absorption properties between 2011 and 2012, (8) coincident ozone and dust surface area measurements suggest coarser particles provide a route for ozone depletion, (9) discrepancies between airborne coarse-mode size distributions and AERONET (AERosol Robotic NETwork) sunphotometer retrievals under light dust loadings. These results provide insights into boundary layer and dust processes in the SHL region - a region of substantial global climatic importance.

AB - The Fennec climate programme aims to improve understanding of the Saharan climate system through a synergy of observations and modelling. We present a description of the Fennec airborne observations during 2011 and 2012 over the remote Sahara (Mauritania and Mali) and the advances in the understanding of mineral dust and boundary layer processes they have provided. Aircraft instrumentation aboard the UK FAAM BAe146 and French SAFIRE (Service des Avions Français Instrumentés pour la Recherche en Environnement) Falcon 20 is described, with specific focus on instrumentation specially developed for and relevant to Saharan meteorology and dust. Flight locations, aims and associated meteorology are described. Examples and applications of aircraft measurements from the Fennec flights are presented, highlighting new scientific results delivered using a synergy of different instruments and aircraft. These include (1) the first airborne measurement of dust particles sizes of up to 300 microns and associated dust fluxes in the Saharan atmospheric boundary layer (SABL), (2) dust uplift from the breakdown of the nocturnal low-level jet before becoming visible in SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible Infra-Red Imager) satellite imagery, (3) vertical profiles of the unique vertical structure of turbulent fluxes in the SABL, (4) in situ observations of processes in SABL clouds showing dust acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN) at -15 °C, (5) dual-aircraft observations of the SABL dynamics, thermodynamics and composition in the Saharan heat low region (SHL), (6) airborne observations of a dust storm associated with a cold pool (haboob) issued from deep convection over the Atlas Mountains, (7) the first airborne chemical composition measurements of dust in the SHL region with differing composition, sources (determined using Lagrangian backward trajectory calculations) and absorption properties between 2011 and 2012, (8) coincident ozone and dust surface area measurements suggest coarser particles provide a route for ozone depletion, (9) discrepancies between airborne coarse-mode size distributions and AERONET (AERosol Robotic NETwork) sunphotometer retrievals under light dust loadings. These results provide insights into boundary layer and dust processes in the SHL region - a region of substantial global climatic importance.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84938302579

U2 - 10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015

DO - 10.5194/acp-15-8479-2015

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84938302579

SN - 1680-7316

VL - 15

SP - 8479

EP - 8520

JO - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

JF - Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

IS - 14

ER -

Advances in understanding mineral dust and boundary layer processes over the Sahara from Fennec aircraft observations

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this