Summary
Meteorological conditions associated with the transport and deposition of harmattan dust particles in West Africa are discussed as well as particle-size distribution analyses of Saharan aeolian dust monitored at Ile-Ife (7.29 N, 4.34 E) nearly 2,000 km South-West of its predominant source region, the Chad Basin.
Mineralogical analysis of the dust indicated that it is predominantly composed of quartz (> 70%) followed by microcline, kaolinite and traces of mica and halloysite. Chemical analyses indicated a predominance of SiO2 (> 60%) followed by Al2O3 (17.4%), Na2O (10.1%), Fe203 (5.6%), TiO2 (3.33%), K2O (1.88%), MgO (0.56%), and CaO (0.37%). The following trace elements were identified: Zn (931 ppm), Mn (834 ppm), Ni (113 ppm), Cr (103 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Co (77 ppm) V (65 ppm) and Li (25 ppm).
The effect of the poor visibility caused by the harmattan dust on aviation operation and safety as well as the health hazards posed on the respiratory system by the air-borne toxic elements should be of concern to relevant decision makers and should be further investigated.
Zusammenfassung
Vorliegende Studie behandelt meteorologische Bedingungen in Zusammenhang mit dem Transport und der Ablagerung von Harmattan-Staubpartikeln in Westafrika, als auch Partikelgrößenverteilungen, die in Ile-Ife (7.29N, 4.34E) aufgezeichnet wurden, beinahe 2000 km südwestlich von ihrer wichtigsten Ursprungsregion, dem Tschad-Becken.
Die mineralogische Analyse des Staubes hat gezeigt, daß er im wesentlichen aus Quartz (> 70%) besteht. Chemische Analysen des Staubes wiesen hauptsächlich SiO2 (> 60%), sowie Al2O3 (17,4%), Na2O (10,1%), Fe2O3 (5,6%) TiO2 (3,33%), K2O (1,88%), MgO (0,56%) und CaO (0.37%) aus; an Spurenelementen wurden Zn (931 ppm), Mn (834 ppm), Ni (113 ppm), Cr (103 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Co (77 ppm), V (65 ppm) und Li (25 ppm) nachgewiesen.
Die Auswirkungen der durch den Harmattan-Staub stark geminderten Sichtweite auf den Flugverkehr und dessen Sicherheit sowie die gesundheitliche Beeinträchtigung der Atemwege durch giftige Aerosole sollten Gegenstand der Sorge staatstragender Kräfte als auch weiterer Forschungsbemühungen sein!
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Adedokun, J.A., Emofurieta, W.O. & Adedeji, O.A. Physical, mineralogical and chemical properties of harmattan dust at Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Theor Appl Climatol 40, 161–169 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00866179
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00866179