Author(s)

J.P. Diaz, F.J. Exposito, I.R. Martin and R. Barrena

Abstract

Saharan mineral dust is studied with a neodymium: yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd-YAG) backscatter lidar system in Tenerife, Canary Islands (28.5°N, 16.3°W). Recent studies have shown the importance of this atmospheric component as a climate forcing agent. This radiative forcing has been quantified between -1 to -2 W/nf, values comparable in magnitude to the positive forcing attributed to greenhouse gases. The main sources of this kind of aerosols are the arid zones. The dust plumes from sources in North Africa are the most prominent and cover the largest ocean areas (400-700 Tg/year). Lidar techniques allow one to obtai

Keywords