Description and Evaluation of the FENGSHA Dust Emission Model in FV3GFS-Chem

Mineral dust is a major contributor to the atmospheric aerosol burden, and some estimates suggest it represents the largest single contributor globally. The modeling of mineral dust emissions is thus important, although complex. As a result, a great deal of effort has been expended to characterize source regions and dust mobilization processes. However, current models still show large diversity, and even greater uncertainty, regarding the representation of the dust life-cycle, particularly near sources. The NOAA Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) FENGSHA dust emission model has been implemented into the new FV3GFS-Chem global aerosol model. FENGSHA has been developed over the past several years and is based on data obtained by ARL scientists using wind tunnel and field measurements. FENGSHA was initially implemented in NOAA’s National Air Quality Forecast Capability for continental-scale air quality forecasts. In this presentation, FENGSHA will be described, highlighting its application to a global-scale model and its differences from other dust emission algorithms. A new satellite-derived sediment supply map used with FENGSHA will also be introduced. Evaluations of FENGSHA’s implementation in FV3GFS-Chem will be presented using satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD), the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) AOD and other surface data.