The formation of a large summertime saharan dust plume: Convective and synoptic-scale analysis

Journal of Geophysical Research

Volumn 119, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 1766-1785

  Roberts, A J ^a   Knippertz, P ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

COMPUTER SIMULATION; HEAT CONVECTION; LAKES; STORMS; WEATHER FORECASTING;

HABOOB; HIGH RESOLUTION SIMULATIONS; MCS; MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE COMPLEXES; MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM; SAHARA; WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING MODELS; WRF;

DUST;

ATMOSPHERIC CONVECTION; ATMOSPHERIC MODELING; ATMOSPHERIC PLUME; BOUNDARY LAYER; DUST STORM; HEAT FLOW; LEE CYCLOGENESIS; MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY; SUMMER; SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGY; THUNDERSTORM; WEATHER FORECASTING;

AIR; ALGERIA; ATLAS MOUNTAINS; HOGGAR; NIGER [WEST AFRICA]; SAHARA;

EID: 84896980249     PISSN: 01480227     EISSN: 21562202     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/2013JD020667     Document Type: Article

References (67)

1. Berry, G., and C. D. Thorncroft (2005), Case study of an intense African easterly wave, Mon. Weather Rev., 133, 752–766, doi:10.1175/MWR2884.1.
2. Brazel, A. J., and W. G. Nickling (1986), The relationship of weather types to dust storm generation in Arizona (1965–1980), J. Climatol., 6(3), 255–275, doi:10.1002/joc.3370060303.
3. Brindley, H., P. Knippertz, C. Ryder, and I. Ashpole (2012), A critical evaluation of the ability of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) thermal infrared red-green-blue rendering to identify dust events: Theoretical analysis, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D07201, doi:10.1029/2011JD017326.
4. Bristow, C. S., K. A. Hudson-Edwards, and A. Chappell (2010), Fertilizing the Amazon and equatorial Atlantic with West African dust, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L14807, doi:10.1029/2010GL043486.
5. Burton, R. R., G. M. Devine, D. J. Parker, P. Chazette, N. Dixon, C. Flamant, and J. M. Haywood (2013), The Harmattan over West Africa: Nocturnal structure and frontogenesis, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 139, 1364–1373, doi:10.1002/qj.2036.
6. Byers, H. R. (1949), Structure and dynamics of the thunderstorm, Science, 110(2856), 291–294, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1676142.
7. Cakmur, R. V., R. L. Miller, and O. Torres (2004), Incorporating the effect of small scale circulations upon dust emission in an AGCM, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D07201, doi:10.1029/2003JD004067.
8. Chen, W., and D. W. Fryrear (2002), Sedimentary characteristics of a haboob dust storm, Atmos. Res., 61(1), 75–85, doi:10.1016/S0169-8095(01)00092-8.
9. Chomette, O., M. Legrand, and B. Marticorena (1999), Determination of the wind speed threshold for the emission of desert dust using satellite remote sensing in the thermal infrared, J. Geophys. Res., 104(D24), 31,207–31,215, doi:10.1029/1999JD900756.
10. Cohen, A. E., M. C. Coniglio, S. F. Corfidi, and S. J. Corfidi (2007), Discrimination of mesoscale convective system environments using sounding observations, Weather Forecast., 22(5), 1045–1062, doi:10.1175/WAF1040.1.
11. Coniglio, M. C., D. J. Stensrud, and L. J. Wicker (2006), Effects of upper-level shear on the structure and maintenance of strong quasi-linear mesoscale convective systems, J. Atmos. Sci., 63(4), 1231–1252, doi:10.1175/JAS3681.1.
12. Cuesta, J., C. Lavaysse, C. Flamant, M. Mimouni, and P. Knippertz (2010), Northward bursts of the West African monsoon leading to rainfall over the hoggar massif, Algeria, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 136(S1), 174–189, doi:10.1002/qj.439.
13. Dee, D. P., et al. (2011), The ERA-Interim reanalysis: Configuration and performance of the data assimilation system, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 137(656), 553–597, doi:10.1002/qj.828.
14. Derbyshire, E. (2007), Natural minerogenic dust and human health, AMBIO J. Hum. Environ., 36(1), 73–77, doi:10.1579/0044-7447(2007) 36[73:NMDAHH]2.0.CO;2.
15. Emmel, C., P. Knippertz, and O. Schulz (2010), Climatology of convective density currents in the southern foothills of the Atlas Mountains, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D11115, doi:10.1029/2009JD012863.
16. Engelstaedter, S., and R. Washington (2007), Atmospheric controls on the annual cycle of North African dust, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D03103, doi:10.1029/2006JD007195.
17. Farquharson, M. (1937), Haboobs and instability in the sudan, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 63, 393–414, doi:10.1002/qj.49706327111.
18. Fiedler, S., K. Schepanski, B. Heinold, P. Knippertz, and I. Tegen (2013), Climatology of nocturnal low-level jets over North Africa and implications for modeling mineral dust emission, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, 6100–6121, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50394.
19. Flamant, C., J. P. Chaboureau, D. J. Parker, C. M. Taylor, J. P. Cammas, O. Bock, F. Timouk, and J. Pelon (2007), Airborne observations of the impact of a convective system on the planetary boundary layer thermodynamics and aerosol distribution in the inter-tropical discontinuity region of the West African monsoon, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 133(626), 1175–1189, doi:10.1002/qj.97.
20. Freeman, M. (1952), Duststorms over the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Met Office Meteorological Reports, 535, 11.
21. Fröhlich, L., P. Knippertz, A. H. Fink, and E. Hohberger (2013), An objective climatology of tropical plumes, J. Clim., 26(14), 5044–5060, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00351.1.
22. Garcia-Carreras, L., J. H. Marsham, D. J. Parker, C. L. Bain, S. Milton, A. Saci, M. Salah-Ferroudj, B. Ouchene, and R. Washington (2013), The impact of convective cold pool outflows on model biases in the Sahara, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 1647–1652, doi:10.1002/grl.50239.
23. Goudie, A. S. (2009), Dust storms: Recent developments, J. Environ. Manage., 90(1), 89–94, doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.07.007.
24. Goudie, A. S., and N. J. Middleton (2001), Saharan dust storms: Nature and consequences, Earth Sci. Rev., 56(1-4), 179–204, doi:10.1016/S0012-8252(01)00067-8.
25. Hallworth, M. A., H. E. Huppert, and M. Ungarish (2001), Axisymmetric gravity currents in a rotating system: Experimental and numerical investigations, J. Fluid Mech., 447, 1–29, doi:10.1017/S0022112001005523.
26. Hamilton, R. A., J. W. Archbold, and C. K. M. Douglas (1945), Meteorology of Nigeria and adjacent territory, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 71(309-310), 231–264, doi:10.1002/qj.49707130905.
27. Heinold, B., P. Knippertz, J. H. Marsham, S. Fiedler, N. S. Dixon, K. Schepanski, B. Laurent, and I. Tegen (2013), The role of deep convection and nocturnal low-level jets for dust emission in summertime West Africa estimates from convection-permitting simulations, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, 4385–4400, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50402.
28. Hobby, M., et al. (2013), The Fennec automatic weather station (AWS) network: Monitoring the Saharan climate system, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 30(4), 709–724, doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-12-00037.1.
29. Huffman, G. J., D. T. Bolvin, E. J. Nelkin, D. B. Wolff, R. F. Adler, G. Gu, Y. Hong, K. P. Bowman, and E. F. Stocker (2007), The TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis (TMPA): Quasi-global, multiyear, combined-sensor precipitation estimates at fine scales, J. Hydrometeor., 8(1), 38–55, doi:10.1175/JHM560.1.
30. Jickells, T. D., et al. (2005), Global iron connections between desert dust, ocean biogeochemistry, and climate, Science, 308(5718), 67–71, doi:10.1126/science.1105959.
31. Kawashima, M. (2011), Numerical study of horizontal shear instability waves along narrow cold frontal rainbands, J. Atmos. Sci., 68(4), 878–903, doi:10.1175/2010JAS3599.1.
32. Knippertz, P. (2008), Dust emissions in the West African heat trough—The role of the diurnal cycle and of extratropical disturbances, Meteorol. Z., 17(5, Sp. Iss. SI), 553–563, doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0315.
33. Knippertz, P., and J. E. Martin (2005), Tropical plumes and extreme precipitation in subtropical and tropical West Africa, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 131(610), 2337–2365, doi:10.1256/qj.04.148.
34. Knippertz, P., and M. C. Todd (2010), The central west Saharan dust hot spot and its relation to African easterly waves and extratropical disturbances, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D12117, doi:10.1029/2009JD012819.
35. Knippertz, P., and M. C. Todd (2012), Mineral dust aerosols over the Sahara: Meteorological controls on emission and transport and implications for modeling, Rev. Geophys., 50, RG1007, doi:10.1029/2011RG000362.
36. Knippertz, P., C. Deutscher, K. Kandler, T. Müller, O. Schulz, and L. Schütz (2007), Dust mobilization due to density currents in the Atlas region: Observations from the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment 2006 field campaign, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D08110, doi:10.1029/2008JD011271.
37. Knippertz, P., J. Trentmann, and A. Seifert (2009), High resolution simulations of convective cold pools over the northwestern Sahara, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D21109, doi:10.1029/2007JD008774.
38. Lawson, T. (1971), Haboob structure in Khartoum, Weather, 26, 105–112, doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1971.tb07402.x.
39. Marsham, J. H., D. J. Parker, C. M. Grams, C. M. Taylor, and J. M. Haywood (2008), Uplift of Saharan dust south of the intertropical discontinuity, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 113, D21102, doi:10.1029/2011GL048368.
40. Marsham, J. H., P. Knippertz, N. S. Dixon, D. J. Parker, and G. M. S. Lister (2011), The importance of the representation of deep convection for modeled dust-generating winds over West Africa during summer, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L16803, doi:10.1029/2011GL048368.
41. Marsham, J. H., et al. (2013a), Meteorology and dust in the central Sahara: Observations from Fennec supersite-1 during the June 2011 Intensive Observation Period, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, 4069–4089, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50211.
42. Marsham, J. H., N. S. Dixon, L. Garcia-Carreras, G. M. S. Lister, D. J. Parker, P. Knippertz, and C. E. Birch (2013b), The role of moist convection in the West African monsoon system: Insights from continental-scale convection-permitting simulations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 1843–1849, doi:10.1002/grl.50347.
43. Marticorena, B., and G. Bergametti (1995), Modeling the atmospheric dust cycle: 1. design of a soil-derived dust emission scheme, J. Geophys. Res., 100(D8), 16,415–16,430, doi:10.1029/95JD00690.
44. Marticorena, B., G. Bergametti, B. Aumont, Y. Callot, C. N’Doumé, and M. Legrand (1997), Modeling the atmospheric dust cycle: 2. Simulation of Saharan dust sources, J. Geophys. Res., 102(D4), 4387–4404, doi:10.1029/1999JD900756.
45. Membery, D. (1985), A gravity wave haboob?, Weather, 40, 214–221, doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1985.tb06877.x.
46. Miller, S. D., A. P. Kuciauskas, M. Liu, Q. Ji, J. S. Reid, D. W. Breed, A. L. Walker, and A. A. Mandoos (2008), Haboob dust storms of the southern Arabian peninsula, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D01202, doi:10.1029/2007JD008550.
47. Mitsuta, Y., T. Hayashi, T. Takemi, Y. Hu, J. Wang, and M. Chen (1995), Two severe local storms as observed in the arid area of northwest China, J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. Ser. II, 73(6), 1269–1284.
48. Ohde, T., and H. Siegel (2010), Biological response to coastal upwelling and dust deposition in the area off Northwest Africa, Cont. Shelf Res., 30(9), 1108–1119, doi:10.1016/j.csr.2010.02.016.
49. Reinfried, F., I. Tegen, B. Heinold, O. Hellmuth, K. Schepanski, U. Cubasch, H. Huebener, and P. Knippertz (2009), Simulations of convectively driven density currents in the Atlas region using a regional model: Impacts on dust emission and sensitivity to horizontal resolution and convection schemes, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D08127, doi:10.1029/2008JD010844.
50. Roberts, A., and P. Knippertz (2012), Haboobs: Convectively generated dust storms in West Africa, Weather, 67(12), 311–316, doi:10.1002/wea.1968.
51. Schepanski, K., I. Tegen, B. Laurent, B. Heinold, and A. Macke (2007), A new Saharan dust source activation frequency map derived from MSG-SEVIRI IR-channels, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L18803, doi:10.1029/2007GL030168.
52. Shao, Y., K.-H. Wyrwoll, A. Chappell, J. Huang, Z. Lin, G. H. McTainsh, M. Mikami, T. Y. Tanaka, X. Wang, and S. Yoon (2011), Dust cycle: An emerging core theme in Earth system science, Aeolian Res., 2(4), 181–204, doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2011.02.001.
53. Simpson, J. (1997), Gravity Currents: In the Environment and the Laboratory 2nd edn, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, U. K.
54. Skamarock, W. C., and J. B. Klemp (2008), A time-split nonhydrostatic atmospheric model for weather research and forecasting applications, J. Comput. Phys., 227(7), 3465–3485, doi:10.1016/j.jcp.2007.01.037.
55. Slingo, A., et al. (2006), Observations of the impact of a major Saharan dust storm on the atmospheric radiation balance, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L24817, doi:10.1029/2006GL027869.
56. Smull, B. F., and R. A. Houze (1987), Rear inflow in squall lines with trailing stratiform precipitation, Mon. Weather Rev., 115(12), 2869–2889, doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1987)115<2869:RIISLW>2.0.CO;2.
57. Solomos, S., G. Kallos, E. Mavromatidis, and J. Kushta (2012), Density currents as a desert dust mobilization mechanism, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12, 11,199–11,211, doi:10.5194/acp-12-11199-2012.
58. Sterk, G. (2003), Causes, consequences and control of wind erosion in Sahelian Africa: A review, Land Degrad. Dev., 14(1), 95–108, doi:10.1002/ldr.526.
59. Strong, C. L., K. Parsons, G. H. McTainsh, and A. Sheehan (2011), Dust transporting wind systems in the lower Lake Eyre Basin, Australia: A preliminary study, Aeolian Res., 2(4), 205–214, doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2010.11.001.
60. Sultan, B., K. Labadi, J.-F. Gugan, and S. Janicot (2005), Climate drives the meningitis epidemics onset in West Africa, PLoS Med, 2(1), e6, doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0020006.
61. Sutton, L. (1925), Haboobs, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 51(213), 25–30, doi:10.1002/qj.49705121305.
62. Takemi, T. (1999), Structure and evolution of a severe squall line over the arid region in northwest China, Mon. Weather Rev., 127(6), 1301–1309, doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<1301:SAEOAS>2.0.CO;2.
63. Takemi, T. (2005), Explicit simulations of convective-scale transport of mineral dust in severe convective weather, J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. Ser. II, 83A, 187–203, doi:10.2151/jmsj.83A.187.
64. Thompson, G., P. R. Field, R. M. Rasmussen, and W. D. Hall (2008), Explicit forecasts of winter precipitation using an improved bulk microphysics scheme. part II: Implementation of a new snow parameterization, Mon. Weather Rev., 136(12), 5095–5115, doi:10.1175/2008MWR2387.1.
65. Vizy, E. K., and K. H. Cook (2009), A mechanism for African monsoon breaks: Mediterranean cold air surges, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D01104, doi:10.1029/2008JD010654.
66. Wang, W., et al. (2012), Advanced Research WRF (ARW) Version 3 Modeling System User’s Guide, NCAR, Boulder, Colo.
67. Washington, R., M. Todd, N. J. Middleton, and A. S. Goudie (2003), Dust-storm source areas determined by the total ozone monitoring spectrometer and surface observations, Ann. Assoc. Am. Geog., 93(2), 297–313, doi:10.1111/1467-8306.9302003.