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Modeling the global emission, transport and deposition of trace elements associated with mineral dust

Modeling the global emission, transport and deposition of trace elements associated with mineral dust
Modeling the global emission, transport and deposition of trace elements associated with mineral dust
Trace element deposition from desert dust has important impacts on ocean primary productivity, the quantification of which could be useful in determining the magnitude and sign of the biogeochemical feedback on radiative forcing. However, the impact of elemental deposition to remote ocean regions is not well understood and is not currently included in global climate models. In this study, emission inventories for eight elements primarily of soil origin, Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, K, Al, and Si are determined based on a global mineral data set and a soil data set. The resulting elemental fractions are used to drive the desert dust model in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) in order to simulate the elemental concentrations of atmospheric dust. Spatial variability of mineral dust elemental fractions is evident on a global scale, particularly for Ca. Simulations of global variations in the Ca / Al ratio, which typically range from around 0.1 to 5.0 in soils, are consistent with observations, suggesting that this ratio is a good signature for dust source regions. The simulated variable fractions of chemical elements are sufficiently different; estimates of deposition should include elemental variations, especially for Ca, Al and Fe. The model results have been evaluated with observations of elemental aerosol concentrations from desert regions and dust events in non-dust regions, providing insights into uncertainties in the modeling approach. The ratios between modeled and observed elemental fractions range from 0.7 to 1.6, except for Mg and Mn (3.4 and 3.5, respectively). Using the soil database improves the correspondence of the spatial heterogeneity in the modeling of several elements (Ca, Al and Fe) compared to observations. Total and soluble dust element fluxes to different ocean basins and ice sheet regions have been estimated, based on the model results. The annual inputs of soluble Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Fe and K associated with dust using the mineral data set are 0.30 Tg, 16.89 Gg, 1.32 Tg, 22.84 Gg, 0.068 Tg, and 0.15 Tg to global oceans and ice sheets.
1726-4170
5771-5792
Zhang, Y.
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Mahowald, N.
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Scanza, R.A.
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Journet, E.
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Desboeufs, K.
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Albani, S.
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Kok, J.F.
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Zhuang, G.
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Chen, Y.
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Cohen, D.D.
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Paytan, A.
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Patey, M.D.
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Achterberg, E.P.
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Engelbrecht, J.P.
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Fomba, K.W.
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Zhang, Y.
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Mahowald, N.
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Scanza, R.A.
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Journet, E.
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Desboeufs, K.
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Albani, S.
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Kok, J.F.
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Zhuang, G.
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Chen, Y.
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Cohen, D.D.
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Paytan, A.
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Patey, M.D.
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Achterberg, E.P.
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Engelbrecht, J.P.
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Fomba, K.W.
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Zhang, Y., Mahowald, N., Scanza, R.A., Journet, E., Desboeufs, K., Albani, S., Kok, J.F., Zhuang, G., Chen, Y., Cohen, D.D., Paytan, A., Patey, M.D., Achterberg, E.P., Engelbrecht, J.P. and Fomba, K.W. (2015) Modeling the global emission, transport and deposition of trace elements associated with mineral dust. Biogeosciences, 12 (19), 5771-5792. (doi:10.5194/bg-12-5771-2015).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Trace element deposition from desert dust has important impacts on ocean primary productivity, the quantification of which could be useful in determining the magnitude and sign of the biogeochemical feedback on radiative forcing. However, the impact of elemental deposition to remote ocean regions is not well understood and is not currently included in global climate models. In this study, emission inventories for eight elements primarily of soil origin, Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, K, Al, and Si are determined based on a global mineral data set and a soil data set. The resulting elemental fractions are used to drive the desert dust model in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) in order to simulate the elemental concentrations of atmospheric dust. Spatial variability of mineral dust elemental fractions is evident on a global scale, particularly for Ca. Simulations of global variations in the Ca / Al ratio, which typically range from around 0.1 to 5.0 in soils, are consistent with observations, suggesting that this ratio is a good signature for dust source regions. The simulated variable fractions of chemical elements are sufficiently different; estimates of deposition should include elemental variations, especially for Ca, Al and Fe. The model results have been evaluated with observations of elemental aerosol concentrations from desert regions and dust events in non-dust regions, providing insights into uncertainties in the modeling approach. The ratios between modeled and observed elemental fractions range from 0.7 to 1.6, except for Mg and Mn (3.4 and 3.5, respectively). Using the soil database improves the correspondence of the spatial heterogeneity in the modeling of several elements (Ca, Al and Fe) compared to observations. Total and soluble dust element fluxes to different ocean basins and ice sheet regions have been estimated, based on the model results. The annual inputs of soluble Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Fe and K associated with dust using the mineral data set are 0.30 Tg, 16.89 Gg, 1.32 Tg, 22.84 Gg, 0.068 Tg, and 0.15 Tg to global oceans and ice sheets.

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Published date: 12 October 2015
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

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Local EPrints ID: 383879
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/383879
ISSN: 1726-4170
PURE UUID: 68faa0b2-24b3-46c2-9cbb-f6703e8b285c

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Date deposited: 10 Nov 2015 15:39
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 21:49

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Contributors

Author: Y. Zhang
Author: N. Mahowald
Author: R.A. Scanza
Author: E. Journet
Author: K. Desboeufs
Author: S. Albani
Author: J.F. Kok
Author: G. Zhuang
Author: Y. Chen
Author: D.D. Cohen
Author: A. Paytan
Author: M.D. Patey
Author: E.P. Achterberg
Author: J.P. Engelbrecht
Author: K.W. Fomba

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