Saharan dust impact on radiative heating rate errors inherent in reanalysis data in the African easterly wave development region

Burgess, Ruby W.; Oyola-Merced, Mayra I.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12183-2024

Articles | Volume 24, issue 21

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12183-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12183-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 24, issue 21

Research article

|

01 Nov 2024

Research article |

| 01 Nov 2024

Saharan dust impact on radiative heating rate errors inherent in reanalysis data in the African easterly wave development region

Ruby W. Burgess and Mayra I. Oyola-Merced

Data sets

Convective Processes Experiment -- Cabo Verde (CPEX-CV) Field Campaign Collection Jon Zawislak et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/CPEXCV/DATA101

MERRA-2 inst6_3d_ana_Nv: 3d, 6-Hourly, Instantaneous, Model-Level, Analysis, Analyzed Meteorological Fields V5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office https://doi.org/10.5067/IUUF4WB9FT4W

MERRA-2 inst3_3d_aer_Nv: 3d, 3-Hourly, Instantaneous, Model-Level, Assimilation, Aerosol Mixing Ratio V5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office https://doi.org/10.5067/LTVB4GPCOTK2

MERRA-2 inst3_2d_gas_Nx: 2d, 3-Hourly, Instantaneous, Single-Level, Assimilation, Aerosol Optical Depth Analysis V5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office https://doi.org/10.5067/HNGA0EWW0R09

Short summary

This study explores how aerosols affect atmospheric heating over African easterly waves (AEWs). Using data from NASA's aircraft and outputs of reanalysis models, the research focuses on days with both Saharan dust and AEWs. Using a radiative transfer model, the study reveals significant differences in heating rates, emphasizing challenges in accurately representing aerosol effects in the atmosphere and underscoring the need for improved aerosol representation in weather models.