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Particle Microphysical‐Property Evolution in a North African Dust Plume During Trans‐Atlantic Transport.

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Title: Particle Microphysical‐Property Evolution in a North African Dust Plume During Trans‐Atlantic Transport.
Authors: Kahn, Ralph A.1,2 (AUTHOR) ralph.kahn@lasp.colorado.edu, Limbacher, James A.3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres. 8/28/2025, Vol. 130 Issue 16, p1-11. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Dust, *Mineral dusts, *Particle size distribution, *Atmospheric aerosols, Remote sensing, Atmospheric models, Remote sensing devices
Geographic Terms: Sahara
Company/Entity: Earth Observing System (Program)
Abstract: The 6‐day trans‐Atlantic trajectory of a major North African dust plume in June 2020 provides a unique opportunity to explore the sensitivity of space‐based, multiangle, multispectral observations to dust microphysical properties. Recent advances in the optical modeling of nonspherical mineral dust particles make possible more subtle interpretation of the top‐of‐atmosphere radiances acquired by the NASA Earth Observing System's Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument. We confirm the MISR radiometrically retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD), its spectral dependence, and geometrically retrieved plume height by comparison with published results from other space‐ and surface‐based instruments. But in addition, we use the advanced MISR Research Aerosol retrieval algorithm to produce for the first time a history of changing column‐effective coarse‐mode size and light‐absorption for nonspherical dust particles during transit. Although the absolute numerical values of particle microphysical properties obtained from remote sensing tend to be qualitative, the stability of the MISR instrument, the dominance of the dust column optical depth contribution throughout the transit in this case, and the darkness and relative uniformity of the underlying ocean surface lend confidence to the retrieved trends and timescales, though plume heterogeneity, cloud contamination, and in one case sun glint contribute some additional uncertainty to the results. Such constraints offer the promise of using satellite observations beyond AOD to improve the representation of dust‐aerosol‐related processes in climate models. Plain Language Summary: Desert dust is the most abundant particle type by mass in Earth's atmosphere, often traversing oceans and continents in significant quantities, affecting air quality regionally and climate globally. However, monitoring these relatively large, nonspherical airborne particles over great distances, most practically done with satellite remote sensing, has been challenging in part because of retrieval‐technique limitations and in part because good dust optical models are difficult to produce. Recent advances in both areas allow us to assess current capabilities with observations from the NASA Earth Observing System's Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). We analyze MISR data from a very large Saharan dust storm over 6 days during trans‐Atlantic transport in June 2020. Retrieved aerosol amount, particle effective size, and light‐absorption properties follow systematic patterns, provided sun glint, cloud contamination, and plume heterogeneity are taken into account. The results are validated against available ground‐station data and are consistent with limited results from other satellite observations. Most importantly, they demonstrate the ability to monitor changes in particle properties that mediate their climate impact, opening the possibility of using satellite‐derived dust‐plume evolution during long‐range transport as meaningful constraints on climate modeling. Key Points: Despite the climatic importance of mineral dust aerosol, monitoring plume evolution during large‐scale transport has been difficultRecent multiangle retrieval and dust modeling advances make unique dust property and elevation‐change tracking from space possibleRetrieved dust amount, effective size, light‐absorption, and height offer climate‐model constraints during long‐range transport [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Particle Microphysical‐Property Evolution in a North African Dust Plume During Trans‐Atlantic Transport.
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The 6‐day trans‐Atlantic trajectory of a major North African dust plume in June 2020 provides a unique opportunity to explore the sensitivity of space‐based, multiangle, multispectral observations to dust microphysical properties. Recent advances in the optical modeling of nonspherical mineral dust particles make possible more subtle interpretation of the top‐of‐atmosphere radiances acquired by the NASA Earth Observing System's Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument. We confirm the MISR radiometrically retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD), its spectral dependence, and geometrically retrieved plume height by comparison with published results from other space‐ and surface‐based instruments. But in addition, we use the advanced MISR Research Aerosol retrieval algorithm to produce for the first time a history of changing column‐effective coarse‐mode size and light‐absorption for nonspherical dust particles during transit. Although the absolute numerical values of particle microphysical properties obtained from remote sensing tend to be qualitative, the stability of the MISR instrument, the dominance of the dust column optical depth contribution throughout the transit in this case, and the darkness and relative uniformity of the underlying ocean surface lend confidence to the retrieved trends and timescales, though plume heterogeneity, cloud contamination, and in one case sun glint contribute some additional uncertainty to the results. Such constraints offer the promise of using satellite observations beyond AOD to improve the representation of dust‐aerosol‐related processes in climate models. Plain Language Summary: Desert dust is the most abundant particle type by mass in Earth's atmosphere, often traversing oceans and continents in significant quantities, affecting air quality regionally and climate globally. However, monitoring these relatively large, nonspherical airborne particles over great distances, most practically done with satellite remote sensing, has been challenging in part because of retrieval‐technique limitations and in part because good dust optical models are difficult to produce. Recent advances in both areas allow us to assess current capabilities with observations from the NASA Earth Observing System's Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). We analyze MISR data from a very large Saharan dust storm over 6 days during trans‐Atlantic transport in June 2020. Retrieved aerosol amount, particle effective size, and light‐absorption properties follow systematic patterns, provided sun glint, cloud contamination, and plume heterogeneity are taken into account. The results are validated against available ground‐station data and are consistent with limited results from other satellite observations. Most importantly, they demonstrate the ability to monitor changes in particle properties that mediate their climate impact, opening the possibility of using satellite‐derived dust‐plume evolution during long‐range transport as meaningful constraints on climate modeling. Key Points: Despite the climatic importance of mineral dust aerosol, monitoring plume evolution during large‐scale transport has been difficultRecent multiangle retrieval and dust modeling advances make unique dust property and elevation‐change tracking from space possibleRetrieved dust amount, effective size, light‐absorption, and height offer climate‐model constraints during long‐range transport [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025JD043779
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Dust
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mineral dusts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Particle size distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric aerosols
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Remote sensing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Remote sensing devices
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sahara
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Earth Observing System (Program)
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Particle Microphysical‐Property Evolution in a North African Dust Plume During Trans‐Atlantic Transport.
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            NameFull: Kahn, Ralph A.
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            NameFull: Limbacher, James A.
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            – D: 28
              M: 08
              Text: 8/28/2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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