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Micrometeorological Conditions for Dust-Devil Occurrence in the Atacama Desert

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Abstract

We report on field observations in January 2009 (austral summer) of atmospheric dust devils in the northern part of the Atacama Desert in South America (≈20◦S). An extremely high level of dust-devil activity over the study site has been observed, dependent on local meteorological conditions. We found a high correlation between the dust-devil frequency of occurrence and the Obukhov length scale, L, calculated from meteorological gradient measurements, with a clear tendency for this frequency to increase with decreasing −L. The upper threshold values of −L ≈ 20–30 m, and the 2-m mean wind speed, V 2 ≈ 8m s−1, for dust-devil occurrence have been found, but the minimal V 2 threshold was not observed. Parallel routine meteorological measurements enabled us to calculate the main constituents of the surface energy balance, to obtain direct estimates of the surface albedo (α ≈ 0.21 at the solar noon) and to summarize the local conditions.

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Author notes

  1. Michael V. Kurgansky

    Present address: A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Concepción, Casilla-160C, Concepción, Chile

    Michael V. Kurgansky, Aldo Montecinos & Victor Villagran

  2. Planetary Science Institute, 1700 East Fort Lowell, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719-2395, USA

    Stephen M. Metzger

Authors
  1. Michael V. Kurgansky
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  2. Aldo Montecinos
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  3. Victor Villagran
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  4. Stephen M. Metzger
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Correspondence to Michael V. Kurgansky.

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Kurgansky, M.V., Montecinos, A., Villagran, V. et al. Micrometeorological Conditions for Dust-Devil Occurrence in the Atacama Desert. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 138, 285–298 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-010-9549-1

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