Strahlungswirksamkeit des atmosphärischen Mineralstaubs: Neue Modellstudien auf der Basis von Feldmessungen in Westafrika im Rahmen des AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis) Programms

• Applicant: Dr. Katja Hungershöfer
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2008 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 62993536

Mineral dust is one of the most prominent components of the atmospheric aerosol in terms of mass. More than one billion tons are emitted in the arid and semi-arid regions every year and are transported into remote regions all over the world. The dust particles modify the radiation balance through scattering and absorption of the atmospheric radiation and hence have a direct influence on our climate, among other aspects. Due to the great inaccuracy concerning the knowledge of the dust key properties, a quantification of this direct radiative effect has not yet been possible with adequate precision. In the framework of the requested research project radiative transfer calculations will be performed in order to achieve a better estimation of the direct radiative effect of dust particles in West Africa. Thereby measurements performed during two intensive field campaigns in 2006 within the scope of the AMMA program will be applied. These measurements include information on the physical, chemical and optical properties which will serve as input parameters for the radiative transfer calculations as well as measurements of the radiative flux densities that can be used to verify the model results.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: France
• Hosts: Professor Dr. Stéphane Alfaro; Dr. Paola Formenti