AtmoHEAD: Atmospheric Monitoring for High-Energy Astroparticle Detectors

Mineral Dust from Patagonia plays an important role in the amount of atmospheric dust transported in the Southern Hemisphere

12 juin 2013, 10:05

35m

CEA Saclay

Talk Aerosols and interdisciplinary studies Wednesday morning 1

Orateur

Dr Yves BALKANSKI (IPSL/LSCE)

Description

Mineral dust transported form desert areas is ubiquitous in tropical and sub-tropical regions where arid and semi-arid deserts constitute an important source for this natural aerosol. At southern mid- and high-latitudes, the concentrations of mineral dust are less important, but it plays an important role to provide trace metals for phytoplankton in the oceans. The austral region between 40 and 65°S is recognized for its importance as a sink for CO2. Patagonia is a major source of mineral dust for the Southern Hemisphere. During past cold periods, the main sources of aerosols measured at South Pole are arid regions over Patagonia. We will explain how a concerted effort to use atmospheric measurements and modeling techniques, that trace the concentration and deposition of mineral dust at the global scale, will help us study the role of mineral dust in the austral regions.