What is the role of African aerosol in the long-term variability of the Atlantic ITCZ?

West Africa is the largest source of aerosol on Earth. The tropical Atlantic region is immediately down the wind of this aerosol source. Possible effects of African aerosol on the tropical Atlantic climate system remain largely unknown. RSMAS has collected a unique long-term measurement of African dust (see Fig. 1). Many important characteristics of African dust have been revealed using this measurement. RSMAS is currently engaged in research of potential effects of African aerosol (including mineral dust and smoke from biomass burning) on long-term variability of rainfall in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Figure 2 illustrates how ITCZ rainfall may vary between years of anomalous high and low aerosol content over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Figure 1

Figure 2