Study of optical and microphysical properties of atmospheric desert dust observed over the Italian peninsula by remote sensing techniques

• DOI: 10.5194/ems2024-899
• Publication Date: 2024-07-05T08:06:31Z
• Authors: Michail Mytilinaios; Aldo Amodeo; Benedetto De Rosa; Nikolaos Papagian...; Christina-Anna Pa...; Yeser Aslanoglu; Rizos-Theodoros C...; Georgia Charalampous; Ilias Fountoulakis; Dimitra Kouklaki; Anna Moustaka; Alkistis Papetta; Stavros Solomos; Lucia Mona
• Keywords: Peninsula; Desert (philosophy)

Desert dust, as the most abundant aerosol type in atmosphere, plays an important role Earth’s climate and weather by influencing radiation balance. The direct radiative effect of dust involves scattering absorption both solar thermal radiation; however, net contribution to forcing remains quite uncertain [1]. This depends on properties particles such their size composition (mineralogy), which turn are related origin any changes they undergo (e.g., mixing) during transport. characterization is therefore very requires observation its optical microphysical across atmospheric column using remote sensing techniques [2].The present study focuses Mediterranean region, one major change hotspots globally. Its proximity sources planet (i.e., Sahara Middle East) results frequent episodes throughout year. Italian peninsula offers advantage for studies due central location within basin extensive network stations that hosts, carry out systematic measurements [3]. In this study, we used quality assured (level 2.0) AERONET data [4] from last twenty years and, applying typing methods, identified outbreaks affected several sites country. Then, dust-related profiles retrieved EARLINET/ACTRIS observations [5, 6] MONARCH reanalysis [7] detect layers over stations, estimated route air mass back trajectories HYSPLIT model [8]. Finally, investigated how differ depending source transport route.  Acknowledgements CNR-IMAA co-authors acknowledge IR0000032 – ITINERIS, Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System (D.D. n. 130/2022 - CUP B53C22002150006) funded EU Next Generation PNRR- Mission 4 “Education Research” Component 2: “From research business” Investment 3.1: “Fund realisation integrated system innovation infrastructures”.They also ACTRIS-IT (Aerosol, Clouds Trace Gases Infrastructure contribution) MUR (Italian Ministry University Research).The authors Action Harmonia CA21119 supported COST (European Cooperation Science Technology).  References[1] Myhre et al., https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.018, 2013[2] Mona https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0005.1, 2023[3] https://itineris.cnr.it/[4] https://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/[5] https://www.earlinet.org/[6] https://www.actris.eu/[7] Di Tomaso https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2785-2022, 2022[8] https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT.php