Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mineral-Aerosol Transport to the North Atlantic and North Pacific: The Impact of African and Asian Sources

  • Chapter
The Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Natural and Contaminant Substances

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 297))

Abstract

In many respects, mineral dust is one of the oldest and longest studied examples of long-range transport. The earliest accounts of this phenomenon, many of which appeared in the general press, are those describing red rains and snows. Although some observers often ascribed these events to fanciful causes (sometimes describing them as “blood” rains), many correctly concluded that the material in the rains was soil dust, which was suspected to have come from distant sources. (For a comprehensive review of the literature on dust falls in Europe, see Bucher 1986, Fett 1958.)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arimoto, R., R. A. Duce, B. J. Ray, and C. K. Unni. 1985. Atmospheric trace elements at Enewetak Atoll: 2. Transport to the ocean by wet and dry deposition. J. Geophys. Res. 90: 2391–2408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arimoto, R., R. A. Duce, B. J. Ray, A. D. Hewitt, and J. Williams. 1987. Trace elements in the atmosphere of American Samoa: Concentrations and deposition to the tropical South Pacific. J. Geophys. Res. 92: 8465–8479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, J., J. Baudet, and A. Drochon. 1974. Importance des aerosols naturels en Afrique de l’Ouest. Rech. Atmos. 8: 846–860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blank, M., M. Leinen, and J. M. Prospero. 1985. Major Asian Aeolian inputs indicated by the mineralogy of aerosols and sediments in the western North Pacific. Nature 314: 84–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buat-Méard, P. 1986. The ocean as a sink for atmospheric particles. In The Role of Air-Sea Exchange in Geochemical Cycling (P. Buat-Ménard, ed.) NATO ASI Series C, Vol. 185, Dordrecht: Reidel, 165–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucher, A. 1986. Recherches sur les Poussieres Minerales d’Origine Saharienne. M.S. thesis, Univ. of Reims-Champagne-Ardenne, 226 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carder, K. L., R. G. Steward, P. R. Betzer, D. L. Johnson, and J. M. Prospero. 1986. Dynamics and composition of particles from an aeolian input event to the Sargasso Sea. Geophys. Res. 91:1055–1066.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, T. N., and S. G. Benjamin. 1980. Radiative heating rates for Saharan dust. Atmos. Sci. 37: 193–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, T. N., and R. S. Caverly. 1977. Radiative characteristics of Saharan dust at solar wavelengths. J. Geophys. Res. 82: 3141– 3152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, T. N., and J. M. Prospero. 1972. The large-scale movement of Saharan air outbreaks over the northern equatorial Atlantic. Appl. Meteorol. 11: 283–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., and R. A. Duce. 1983. The sources of sulfate, vanadium and mineral matter in aerosol particles over Bermuda. Atmos. Environ. 17: 2055–2064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chester, R. 1982. Particulate aluminum fluxes in the eastern Atlantic. Marine Chemistry 11: 1 –16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chester, R. 1986. The marine mineral aerosol. In The Role of Air-Sea Exchange in Geochemical Cycling (P. Buat-M£nard, ed.) NATO ASI Series C, Vol. 185, Dordrecht: Reidel, 443–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coude-Gaussen, G. 1984. Le cycle des poussieres eoliennes desertiques actualles et la sedimentation des loess peridesertiques quarter- naires. Bull. Centre Rech. Explor. Product. Elf-Aquitaine 8: 167–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Almeida, G. A. 1986. A model for Saharan dust transport. CIimate Appl. Meteorol. 25: 903 - 916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darwin, C. 1846. An account of the fine dust which often falls on vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. Geol. Soc. London. Q. J. 2: 26–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duce, R. A. 1986. The impact of atmospheric nitrogen, phosphorous and iron species on marine biological productivity. In The Role of Air- Sea Exchange in Geochemical Cycling (P. Buat-Ménard, ed.) NATO ASI Series C, Vol. 185, Dordrecht: Reidel, 497–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duce, R. A., R. Arimoto, B. J. Ray, C. K. Unni, and P. J. Harder. 1983. Atmospheric trace elements at Enewetak: I. Concentrations, sources and temporal variability. J. Geophys. Res. 88: 5321–5342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estoque, M., J. Fernandez-Partagas, D. M. Helgren, and J. M. Prospero. 1974. Genesis of major dust storms in West Africa during the summer of 1974. U. S. Army Res. Office Tech. Rept., Contract No. DAAG29- 83-k-0082, University of Miami, Fl., 17 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fett, W. 1958. Der Atmospharische Staub. Berlin: Deutches Verlag Wissen, 309 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillette, D. A. 1981. Production of dust that may be carried great distances. In Desert Dust: Origin, Characteristics, and Effects on Man (T. L. Pewe, ed.) Spec. Paper 186, Boulder: Geol. Soc. Am., 11–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaccum, R. A., and J. M. Prospero. 1980. Saharan aerosols over the tropical North Atlantic—mineralogy. Marine Geol. 37: 295–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goudie, A. S. 1983. Dust storms in space and time. Progress Physical Geography 7: 502–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, G. L., R. C. Harriss, R. W. Talbot, R. A. Rasmussen, M. Gar- stang, M. 0. Andreae, R. R. Hinton, E. V. Browell, S. M. Beck, D. I. Sebacher, M. A. K. Khalil, R. J. Ferek, and S. V. Harriss. 1986. Air chemistry over the tropical forest of Guyana. J. Geophys. Res. 91: 8603–8612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helgren, D. M., and J. M. Prospero. 1987. Wind velocities associated with dust deflation events in the western Sahara. Climate Appl. Meteorol. 26: 1147–1151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honjo, S., S. J. Manganini, and J. J. Cole. 1982. Sedimentation of biogenic matter in the deep ocean. Deep-Sea Res. 29: 609–625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ing, G. K. T. 1972. A dust storm over central China, April 1969. Weather 27: 136–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inoue, K., and T. Naruse. 1987. Physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of modern aeolian dust in Japan and rate of dust deposition. Soil Sci. Plant Nutrition 33: 327–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaenicke, R., and L. Schutz. 1978. Comprehensive study of physical and chemical properties of the surface aerosols in the Cape Verde Islands region. Geophys. Res. 83: 3585–3599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadowaki, S. 1979. Silicon and aluminum in urban aerosols for characterization of atmospheric soil particles in the Nagoya area. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13: 1130–1133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kremling, K. 1985. The distribution of cadmium, copper, nickel, manganese, and aluminum in surface waters of the open Atlantic and European shelf area. Deep-Sea Res. 32: 531–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maring, H. B., and R. A. Duce. 1987. The impact of atmospheric aerosols on trace metal chemistry in open ocean surface seawater: 1. Aluminum. Earth Planetary Sci. Ltrs. 84: 381–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • McTainsh, G. 1984. The nature and origin of aeolian mantles in central northern Nigeria. Geoderma 33: 13–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McTainsh, G., and P. H. Walker. 1982. Nature and distribution of Harmat- tan dust. Z±. Geomorphol. N. F. 26: 417–435 (Z).

    Google Scholar 

  • Me rrill, J. T., 1986. Atmospheric pathways to the oceans. In The Role of Air-Sea Exchange in Geochemical Cycling (P. Buat-Méard, ed.) NATO AS I Series C, Vol. 185, Dordrecht: Reidel, 35–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merrill, J. T., R. Bleck, and L. Avila. 1985. Modeling atmospheric transport to the Marshall Islands. Geophys. Res. 90:12, 927–12, 936.

    Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, N. J. 1985. Effect of drought on dust production in the Sahel. Nature 316: 431– 434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, N. J. 1986. A geography of dust storms in southwest Asia. Climatology 6: 183–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, N. J., A. S. Goudie, and G. L. Wells. 1986. The frequency and source areas of dust storms. In Aeolian Geomorphology ( W. G. Nickling, ed.) New York: Allen and Unwin, 237–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales, C. 1979. The use of meteorological observations for studies of the mobilization, transport and deposition of Saharan soil dust. In Saharan Dust:Mobilization, Transport, Deposition ( C. Morales, ed.) New York: Wiley, 119–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales, C. 1986. The airborne transport of Saharan dust: A review. Climatic Change 9: 219– 241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muhs, D. R., R. C. Crittenden, J. H. Rosholt, C. A. Bush, and K. C. Stewart. 1987. Genesis of marine terrace soils, Barbados, West Indies: Evidence from mineralogy and geochemistry. Earth Surface Processes. Landform 12: 605–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrington, J. R., and W. H. Zoller. 1984. Diurnal and longer-term temporal changes in the composition of atmospheric particles at Mauna Loa, Hawaii. J. Geophys. Res. 89: 2522–2534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parrington, J. R., W. H. Zoller, and N. K. Aras. 1983. Asian dust: Seasonal transport to the Hawaiian Islands. Science 220: 195–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M. 1979. Mineral and sea salt aerosol concentrations in various ocean regions. Geophys. Res. 84: 725–731.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M. 1981. Aeolian transport to the world ocean. In The Oceanic Lithosphere ( C. Emiliani, ed.) New York: Wiley, 801–874.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., and T. N. Carlson, 1972. Vertical and areal distribution of Saharan dust over the western equatorial North Atlantic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res. 77: 5255–5265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., and T. N. Carlson. 1981. Saharan air outbreaks over the tropical North Atlantic. Pure Appl. Geophysics 119: 677–691.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., and R. T. Nees. 1986. Impact of the North African drought and El Nino on mineral dust in the Barbados trade winds. Nature 320: 735–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., and D. L. Savoie. 1989. Effect of continental sources on nitrate concentrations over the Pacific Ocean. Nature, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., E. Bonatti, C. Schubert, and T. N. Carlson. 1970. Dust in the Caribbean atmosphere traced to an African dust storm. Earth Planetary Sci. Ltrs. 9: 287–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., D. L. Savoie, T. N. Carlson, and R. T. Nees. 1979. Monitoring Saharan aerosol transport by means of atmospheric turbidity measurements, In Saharan Dust: Mobilization, Transport, Deposition ( C. Morales, ed.) New York: Wiley, 171–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., R. A. Glaccum, and R. T. Nees. 1981. Atmospheric transport of soil dust from Africa to South America. Nature 289: 570–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J. M., D. L. Savoie, R. T. Nees, R. A. Duce, and J. Merrill. 1985. Particulate sulfate and nitrate in the boundary layer over the North Pacific Ocean. J. Geophys. Res. 90:10, 586–10, 596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J.M., R.T. Nees, and M.Uematsu. 1987. Deposition rate of particulate and dissolved aluminum derived from Saharan dust in precipitation at Miami, Florida.J. Geophys. Res. 92:14,723–14,731.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J.M., M. Uematsu, and D.L. Savoie. 1989. Mineral aerosol transport to the Pacific Ocean. In Chemical Oceanography, Vol. 10 (J.P. Riley, ed.) New York:Academic Press, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pye, K. 1987. Aeolian Dust and Dust Deposits. New York: Academic Press, 334 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie, D. L. 1978. Physical and chemical characteristics of the Saharan aerosols over the tropical northern Atlantic. M.S. thesis, Univ. of Miami, FL, 137 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie, D. L. 1984. Nitrate and non-sea-salt sulfate aerosols over major regions of the world ocean: Concentrations, sources, and fluxes. Ph.D. dissert., Univ. of Miami, FL, 432 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie, D.L., and J.M. Prospero. 1989. Comparison of oceanic and continental sources of non-seasalt sulphate over the Pacific Ocean. Nature, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie, D. L., J. M. Prospero, and R. T. Nees. 1987. Frequency distribution of dust concentration in Barbados as a function of averaging time. Atmos. Environ. 21: 1659–1664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie, D. L., J. M. Prospero, and E. S. Saltzman. 1989a. Non-seasalt sulfate and nitrate in trade wind aerosols at Barbados: Evidence for long-range transport. J. Geophys. Res. 94: 5069–5080.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savoie, D.L., J.M. Prospero, and E.S. Saltzman. 1989b. Nitrate, non- seasalt sulfate and methanesulfonate over the Pacific Ocean. In Chemical Oceanography. Vol. 10 (J.P. Riley, ed.) New York:Academic Press, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, L. 1980. Long-range transport of desert dust with special emphasis on the Sahara. In Aerosols: Anthropogenic and Natural, Sources and Transport (T. J. Kneip and P. J. Lioy, eds.) New York:Ann. N.Y. Academy Sci., 338: 515–532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, L., and E. A. Rahn. 1982. Trace-element concentrations in erodible soils. Atmos. Environ. 16: 171–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, L., and M. Sebert. 1987. Mineral aerosols and source identification. Aerosol Sci. 18: 1 –10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, L., R. Jaenicke, and H. Pietrer. 1981. Saharan dust transport over the North Atlantic Ocean. In Desert Dust: Origin, Characteristics. and Effects on Man (T. L. Pewe, ed.) Special Paper 186, Boulder: Geol. Soc. Am., 87– 100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheng, L. T., G. X. Fei, A. Z. Sheng, and F. Y. Xiang. 1981. The dust fall in Beijing, China, on April 18, 1980. In Desert Dust: Origin. Characteristics, and Effect on Man (T. L. Pewe, ed.) Special Paper 186, Boulder: Geol. Soc. Am., 149– 157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoffyn, M., and F. T. Mackenzie. 1982. Fate of dissolved aluminium in the oceans. Marine Chemistry 11: 105–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talbot, R. W., R. C. Harriss, E. V. Browell, G. L. Gregory, D. I. Sebacher, and S. M. Beck. 1986. Distribution and geochemistry of aerosols in the tropical North Atlantic troposhere: Relationship to Saharan dust. Geophys. Res. 91: 5173–5182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsoar, H., and K. Pye. 1987. Dust transport and the question of desert loess formation. Sedimentol. 34: 139–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., M. Uematsu, S. Noriki, N. Tanaka, and M. Yamada. 1982. Sediment trap experiment in the northern North Pacific: Undulation of settling particles. Geochem. 16: 129–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsunogai, S., T. Suzuki, T. Eurata, and M. Uematsu. 1985. Seasonal and areal variation of continental aerosol in the surface air over the western North Pacific region. Oceanog. Soc. Japan 41: 427–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uematsu, M., R. A. Duce, J. M. Prospero, L. Chen, J. T. Merrill, and R. L. McDonald. 1983. Transport of mineral aerosol from Asia over the North Pacific Ocean. Geophys. Res. 88: 5343–5352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uematsu, M., R. A. Duce, and J. M. Prospero. 1985. Deposition of atmospheric mineral particles in the North Pacific Ocean. Atmos. Chemistry 3: 123–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts, I. E. M. 1969. Climates of China and Korea. In World Survey of Climatology (H. Arakawa, ed.) Amsterdam:Elsevier, 8: 1–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, G. T., M. S. Ruthkosky, D. P. Stroup, P. E. Korsog, M. A. Ferman, G. J. Wendel, and D. H. Stedman. 1986. Measurement of S0x, NOx, and aerosol species on Bermuda. Atmos. Environ. 20: 1229–1239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL, 33149, USA

    Joseph M. Prospero

Authors
  1. Joseph M. Prospero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc, Ferry Reach, Bermuda, UK

    Anthony H. Knap

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Prospero, J.M. (1990). Mineral-Aerosol Transport to the North Atlantic and North Pacific: The Impact of African and Asian Sources. In: Knap, A.H., Kaiser, MS., Kaiser, MS. (eds) The Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Natural and Contaminant Substances. NATO ASI Series, vol 297. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0503-0_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0503-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6712-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0503-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation