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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • tropical Atlantic
  • Saharan dust
  • SST

Index Terms

  • Oceanography: Physical: Air/sea interactions
  • Oceanography: General: Climate and interannual variability
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Aerosols and particles
  • Atmospheric Processes: Climate change and variability

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 35, L20706, 5 PP., 2008
doi:10.1029/2008GL035042

Trends in Saharan dust and tropical Atlantic climate during 1980–2006

Gregory R. Foltz

Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

Michael J. McPhaden

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, USA

Trends in tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST), Sahel rainfall, and Saharan dust are investigated during 1980–2006. This period is characterized by a significant increase in tropical North Atlantic SST and the transition from a negative to a positive phase of the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO). It is found that dust concentrations over western Africa and the tropical North Atlantic Ocean decreased significantly between 1980 and 2006 in association with an increase in Sahel rainfall. The decrease in dust in the tropical North Atlantic tended to increase the surface radiative heat flux by 0.7 W m−2 which, if unbalanced, would lead to an increase in SST of 3°C. Coupled models significantly underestimate the amplitude of the AMO in the tropical North Atlantic possibly because they do not account for changes in Saharan dust concentration.

Received 16 June 2008; accepted 23 September 2008; published 25 October 2008.

Citation: Foltz, G. R., and M. J. McPhaden (2008), Trends in Saharan dust and tropical Atlantic climate during 1980–2006, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L20706, doi:10.1029/2008GL035042.

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