Monitoring Saharan dust events using integrated observing systems

Besides causing air pollution, Saharan dust events have been linked to the decline of the coral reefs in the Caribbean according to recent studies by the U.S. Geological Survey. Other studies have suggested that Sahelian Dust may play a role in determining the frequency and intensity of Hurricanes formed in the eastern Atlantic ocean. The impacts of African duststorms on climate change are continuously monitored by various space-based instruments.

On 26 February 2000, a massive duststorm emanated from the northwest African desert in Morocco and Western Sahara, and was transported over 1000 miles into Atlantic by strong eastly winds. By March 4th, the cloud of dust has reached the northeast coast of South America and Caribbean Sea. In this paper, we will present satellite observations of aerosols and surface winds during this event. We will discuss the orographic effects on wind and aerosol distributions, and address possible connections between the duststorm and boundary layer winds.