A Simulation Study on the New Transport Pathways of Global Tropopause Dust Layer. Issue 22 (19th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Qingzhe; Liu, Yuzhi; Shao, Tianbin; Luo, Run; Tan, Ziyuan
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 48:Issue 22(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-11-19
• Subjects: dust -- tropopause aerosol layer -- transport pathway -- contribution; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2021GL096063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Previous study of the tropopause aerosol layer is focused on the region surrounding the Tibetan Plateau. However, other transport pathways of the tropopause aerosol layer remain unclear. In this study, by simulating the dusts from different dust sources individually, we detected the Ethiopian Plateau and the Rocky Mountains are two new transport pathways of the global tropopause dust layer (GTDL). In addition, the contributions of different dust sources to the GTDL were quantified, the mass concentration percentage of dusts originating from Indian Peninsula in the GTDL at 100 hPa is 31.5%, which is the largest, followed by those of dusts from Middle East and Northwestern East Asia, dusts from North Africa contribute 17.3% to the GTDL at 100 hPa, which is the smallest. Our results demonstrate the existence of multiple transport pathways of the tropopause aerosol layer and clearly provide the contributions of each dust source to the GTDL. Plain Language Summary: Tropospheric aerosols can be transported through specific regions to the stratosphere. The current studies indicate the TP as a key region for aerosol transport. Through model simulations, in this study, we found that the Ethiopian Plateau in Africa and the Rocky Mountains in North America are also the pathways for aerosol transport. We also found the contribution of dusts originating from Indian Peninsula to the GTDL is the largest, followed by dusts originating from Middle East and Northwestern East Asia, and the contribution of dusts originating from North Africa to the GTDL is the smallest. Key Points: The tropopause dust layer covers a full circuit around the globea The Ethiopian Plateau and the Rocky Mountains are two new transport pathways of the GTDL The contribution of dusts from IND to GTDL is the largest and the one from NAF to GTDL is the smallest