An IR Sounding-Based Analysis of the Saharan Air Layer in North Africa

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Nicholls.pdf (4.3 MB)

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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20180000758.pdf

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http://hdl.handle.net/11603/7927

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UMBC Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET)
UMBC Faculty Collection

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Date

2018

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conference papers and proceedings
presentations (communicative events)
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This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is made available by UMBC for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the author.

Subjects

North Africa
climate
Saharan Air Layer (SAL)
Well-Mixed Layers (WML's)
Atmosphere Infrared Sounder (AIRS)
Saharan Air Layer (SAL) Frequency
Saharan Air Layer (SAL) Properties
Saharan Air Layer (SAL) Trajectories

Abstract

• Evaluated AIRS SAL detection potential given porous radiosonde network (2002–2016) • AIRS vs AIRS/AMSU WML detection rates within 5% • WML: Potent seasonal cycle, best resolved by AIRS • SAL Frequency: Well-matched to observations, WML to SAL conversion rates highest in Sahara (Max 26%) • SAL Properties: • Distinct warm bias (esp. ECMWF) • Layer thickness well captured, but AIRS IQR too small • SAL trajectories: • Precipitation: 43-47% (0-10 mm), 10-13% (100mm+) • Dusty air (> 0.30 ODU): Sahara – 20-22%, Non-Sahara – 40-55% • Caveat: AIRS likely to do better further from rawinsondes station, AIRS results lose little with loss of AMSU.