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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Meteorology and dust in the central Sahara: Observations from Fennec supersite-1 during the June 2011 Intensive Observation Period
Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, Volume 118, No. 10, Year 2013
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Description
We describe observations from the Fennec supersite at Bordj Badji Mokhtar (BBM) made during the June 2011 Fennec Intensive Observation Period. These are the first detailed in situ observations of meteorology and dust from the central Sahara, close to the center of the Saharan heat low and the summertime dust maximum. Historically, a shortage of such Saharan observations has created problems for evaluating processes, models, and remote sensing. There was a monsoon influence at BBM before 8 June and after 12 June, with dry Harmattan winds in between. A split boundary layer, generated by ventilation from the Atlantic, persisted during the drier phase. Extensive cold pools (haboobs) and microburst-type events were regularly observed. Moisture reached BBM at night from the monsoon and the embedded haboobs. As well as the regularly occurring nocturnal low-level jet (LLJ), a Saharan upper boundary layer (650 hPa) jet was observed, where winds feel drag from dry convection in the afternoon. This jet is linked to the diurnal cycles of moisture and cloud. Most dust was observed in the cloudier monsoon-affected periods, and covarying dust and cloud amounts explain most of the variations in shortwave radiation that control the surface sensible flux. Dustiness is related to a standard parameterization of uplift using 10 m winds ("uplift potential"), and this is used to estimate uplift. Around 50% of uplift is nocturnal. Around 30% is from the LLJ, and 50% is from haboobs, which are mainly nocturnal. This demonstrates, for the first time from observations, the key role of haboobs, which are problematic for models. Key PointsFirst detailed observations from the central Sahara (upper BL jet observed)Most dust in moist air. Together, dust & cloud control surface energy balance~50% of dust uplift is nocturnal. ~30% from the LLJ and ~50% from haboobs ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Marsham, John H.
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Hobby, Matthew
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Allen, Christopher
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Banks, J. R.
United Kingdom, London
Imperial College London
Bart, Mark
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
New Zealand, Auckland
Aeroqual Limited
Brooks, B. J.
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Cavazos-Guerra, C.
United Kingdom, Brighton
University of Sussex
Engelstaedter, Sebastian
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Gascoyne, Matthew
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Lima, A. R.
United States, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Umbc
Martins, José Vanderlei
United States, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Umbc
McQuaid, James B.
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
O'Leary, A.
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Ouchene, Bouziane
Algeria, Algiers
Office National de la Météorologie
Ouladichir, Abdelkader
Algeria, Algiers
Office National de la Météorologie
Parker, Douglas J.
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Saci, Azzedine
Algeria, Algiers
Office National de la Météorologie
Salah-Ferroudj, M.
Algeria, Algiers
Office National de la Météorologie
Todd, Martin C.
United Kingdom, Brighton
University of Sussex
Washington, Richard
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Statistics
Citations: 142
Authors: 20
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/jgrd.50211
e-ISSN:
21698996
Research Areas
Cancer
Environmental