Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C517284/1
Dust Outflow and Deposition to the Ocean (DODO).
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor EJ Highwood, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr PI Williams, UMIST, Physics
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor H Coe, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor DJ Vaughan, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor R Harrison, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor JR Lloyd, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Earth
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Land - Atmosphere Interactions
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Ocean - Atmosphere Interact.
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Dust from the Sahara is often picked up by the winds and transported out across the Atlantic ocean. The smallest particles can reach as far as the USA, but most of the larger dust is deposited into the ocean. This dust carries minerals and nutrients into the ocean and is thought to be particularly important in adding iron, which feeds phytoplankton in the ocean. These phytoplankton play a role in the global carbon cycle, which is of great importance for global warming. It is important to know exactly how much dust is being deposited in the ocean, and how it gets there. Previous work suggest that this depends on the characteristics of the dust when it is in the atmosphere, for example the amount and size of particles, their chemical composition and geographical and vertical location within the atmosphere. The proposed work aims to produce a quantitative climatology of dust deposition to the eastern Atlantic ocean, constraining this estimate using aircraft measurements, and providing a chemical fingerprint of dust sources that are important for deposition. A key part of the project will fly an aircraft through the layers of dust being transported from the Sahara over the Atlantic. Instruments on board the aircraft can measure the size and number of particles. We will improve these instruments by making sure we can say exactly how the air flows down the tubes onto the aircraft, and by making them sample more efficiently. Samples of aerosol will be collected and taken back to laboratories for analysis for chemical composition. We will also measure the radiation scattering ability of the dust particles, as this can have an impact on climate. Samples of dust will also be collected on the ground at the Cape Verde islands. Individual dust particles will be examined in the laboratory to determine the most likely part of Africa from which they have come. We will use these measurements to provide an improved description of the dust in the atmosphere as it leaves the coast of Africa. This will serve as input to a model that simulates dust transport across the ocean and deposition into the ocean. Measurements of how the properties change moving away from the source will give us a clue as to the important processes which are removing dust from the atmosphere. We will end up with quantitative estimates of the flux of dust to the ocean, and that of iron specifically, during our 4 case studies. We will then use this information, and the long term monitoring of strength and extent of similar events by satellites, to estimate the annual flux of iron to the ocean. This information will be very useful to those modelling the biology and chemistry of the ocean, and how the ocean and atmosphere interact.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Oct 2005 - 30 Sep 2008
- Value:
- £38,804 Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C517284/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- SOLAS
This grant award has a total value of £38,804
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5,170 | £19,212 | £5,584 | £8,837 |
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