The Saharan Aerosol Long-range Transport and Aerosol-Cloud-interaction Experiment (SALTRACE) (ACP/AMT inter-journal SI)(ACP/AMT inter-journal SI)
The Saharan Aerosol Long-range Transport and Aerosol-Cloud-interaction Experiment (SALTRACE) (ACP/AMT inter-journal SI)(ACP/AMT inter-journal SI)
Editor(s): B. Weinzierl, U. Wandinger, C. Flamant, C. Hoose, C. Ryder, and J. Schwarz Special issue jointly organized between Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Wind-borne mineral dust can affect climate through its interaction with radiation and its role in cloud microphysical processes. In spite of this importance, there has been little research on the long-range transport of mineral dust. In particular critical understanding of the transformations of mineral dust during long-range transport including changes in physical and chemical properties of the particles and the roles of various removal processes during transport is lacking. In addition, climate change threatens to change dust emission rates and hence future dust impacts.

To investigate the long-range transport of mineral dust from the Sahara into the Caribbean, and to study the impact of aged mineral dust on both the radiation budget and cloud microphysical processes, the Saharan Aerosol Long-range Transport and Aerosol-Cloud-Interaction Experiment (SALTRACE, http://www.pa.op.dlr.de/saltrace/ ) was conducted in June/July 2013. During SALTRACE, mineral dust from several dust outbreaks was studied under a variety of atmospheric conditions, and a comprehensive data set on chemical, microphysical and optical properties of aged mineral dust was gathered.

SALTRACE was a German initiative involving scientists from Europe, Cabo Verde , the Caribbean and the US. It was designed as a closure experiment combining ground-based, airborne, satellite and modelling efforts. Ground-based lidar, in situ aerosol and sun photometer instruments were deployed on Barbados (main SALTRACE super-site), Cabo Verde and Puerto Rico. The DLR research aircraft Falcon carried an extensive suite of in situ and remote-sensing instruments and spent more than 110 flight hours studying the long-range transport of mineral dust between Senegal, Cabo Verde, the Caribbean and Florida.

SALTRACE was highly successful and allowed the collection of a unique mineral dust data set which will be presented in this SI, including papers on the experimental, theoretical, and modelling results, as well as instrument and algorithm developments related to the SALTRACE field experiment.

Download citations of all papers

17 Apr 2020
Flow-induced errors in airborne in situ measurements of aerosols and clouds
Antonio Spanu, Maximilian Dollner, Josef Gasteiger, T. Paul Bui, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 1963–1987, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1963-2020,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1963-2020, 2020
Short summary
02 Dec 2019
Sun photometer retrievals of Saharan dust properties over Barbados during SALTRACE
Carlos Toledano, Benjamín Torres, Cristian Velasco-Merino, Dietrich Althausen, Silke Groß, Matthias Wiegner, Bernadett Weinzierl, Josef Gasteiger, Albert Ansmann, Ramiro González, David Mateos, David Farrel, Thomas Müller, Moritz Haarig, and Victoria E. Cachorro
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 14571–14583, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-14571-2019,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-14571-2019, 2019
Short summary
18 Nov 2019
Profiles of cloud condensation nuclei, dust mass concentration, and ice-nucleating-particle-relevant aerosol properties in the Saharan Air Layer over Barbados from polarization lidar and airborne in situ measurements
Moritz Haarig, Adrian Walser, Albert Ansmann, Maximilian Dollner, Dietrich Althausen, Daniel Sauer, David Farrell, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 13773–13788, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-13773-2019,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-13773-2019, 2019
Short summary
23 Aug 2019
Cloud macro-physical properties in Saharan-dust-laden and dust-free North Atlantic trade wind regimes: a lidar case study
Manuel Gutleben, Silke Groß, and Martin Wirth
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 10659–10673, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10659-2019,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10659-2019, 2019
Short summary
23 May 2019
The sensitivity of the colour of dust in MSG-SEVIRI Desert Dust infrared composite imagery to surface and atmospheric conditions
Jamie R. Banks, Anja Hünerbein, Bernd Heinold, Helen E. Brindley, Hartwig Deneke, and Kerstin Schepanski
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 6893–6911, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-6893-2019,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-6893-2019, 2019
Short summary
21 Sep 2018
Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
Konrad Kandler, Kilian Schneiders, Martin Ebert, Markus Hartmann, Stephan Weinbruch, Maria Prass, and Christopher Pöhlker
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 13429–13455, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-13429-2018,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-13429-2018, 2018
Short summary
10 Jul 2018
The influence of dust optical properties on the colour of simulated MSG-SEVIRI Desert Dust infrared imagery
Jamie R. Banks, Kerstin Schepanski, Bernd Heinold, Anja Hünerbein, and Helen E. Brindley
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 9681–9703, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9681-2018,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9681-2018, 2018
Short summary
05 Jul 2018
Impact of long-range transport over the Atlantic Ocean on Saharan dust optical and microphysical properties based on AERONET data
Cristian Velasco-Merino, David Mateos, Carlos Toledano, Joseph M. Prospero, Jack Molinie, Lovely Euphrasie-Clotilde, Ramiro González, Victoria E. Cachorro, Abel Calle, and Angel M. de Frutos
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 9411–9424, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9411-2018,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-9411-2018, 2018
Short summary
19 Dec 2017
Profiling of Saharan dust from the Caribbean to western Africa – Part 2: Shipborne lidar measurements versus forecasts
Albert Ansmann, Franziska Rittmeister, Ronny Engelmann, Sara Basart, Oriol Jorba, Christos Spyrou, Samuel Remy, Annett Skupin, Holger Baars, Patric Seifert, Fabian Senf, and Thomas Kanitz
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 14987–15006, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14987-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14987-2017, 2017
30 Nov 2017
Dry versus wet marine particle optical properties: RH dependence of depolarization ratio, backscatter, and extinction from multiwavelength lidar measurements during SALTRACE
Moritz Haarig, Albert Ansmann, Josef Gasteiger, Konrad Kandler, Dietrich Althausen, Holger Baars, Martin Radenz, and David A. Farrell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 14199–14217, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14199-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14199-2017, 2017
Short summary
14 Nov 2017
On the parametrization of optical particle counter response including instrument-induced broadening of size spectra and a self-consistent evaluation of calibration measurements
Adrian Walser, Daniel Sauer, Antonio Spanu, Josef Gasteiger, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 4341–4361, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4341-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-4341-2017, 2017
Short summary
03 Nov 2017
Profiling of Saharan dust from the Caribbean to western Africa – Part 1: Layering structures and optical properties from shipborne polarization/Raman lidar observations
Franziska Rittmeister, Albert Ansmann, Ronny Engelmann, Annett Skupin, Holger Baars, Thomas Kanitz, and Stefan Kinne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 12963–12983, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12963-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-12963-2017, 2017
19 Sep 2017
Potential of polarization/Raman lidar to separate fine dust, coarse dust, maritime, and anthropogenic aerosol profiles
Rodanthi-Elisavet Mamouri and Albert Ansmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 3403–3427, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3403-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3403-2017, 2017
13 Sep 2017
Triple-wavelength depolarization-ratio profiling of Saharan dust over Barbados during SALTRACE in 2013 and 2014
Moritz Haarig, Albert Ansmann, Dietrich Althausen, André Klepel, Silke Groß, Volker Freudenthaler, Carlos Toledano, Rodanthi-Elisavet Mamouri, David A. Farrell, Damien A. Prescod, Eleni Marinou, Sharon P. Burton, Josef Gasteiger, Ronny Engelmann, and Holger Baars
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 10767–10794, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10767-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10767-2017, 2017
Short summary
01 Sep 2017
Harmattan, Saharan heat low, and West African monsoon circulation: modulations on the Saharan dust outflow towards the North Atlantic
Kerstin Schepanski, Bernd Heinold, and Ina Tegen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 10223–10243, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10223-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10223-2017, 2017
Short summary
30 Aug 2017
Seasonal provenance changes in present-day Saharan dust collected in and off Mauritania
Carmen A. Friese, Johannes A. van Hateren, Christoph Vogt, Gerhard Fischer, and Jan-Berend W. Stuut
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 10163–10193, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10163-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10163-2017, 2017
Short summary
16 May 2017
Downward particle fluxes of biogenic matter and Saharan dust across the equatorial North Atlantic
Laura F. Korte, Geert-Jan A. Brummer, Michèlle van der Does, Catarina V. Guerreiro, Rick Hennekam, Johannes A. van Hateren, Dirk Jong, Chris I. Munday, Stefan Schouten, and Jan-Berend W. Stuut
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 6023–6040, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-6023-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-6023-2017, 2017
Short summary
05 Jan 2017
Particle settling and vertical mixing in the Saharan Air Layer as seen from an integrated model, lidar, and in situ perspective
Josef Gasteiger, Silke Groß, Daniel Sauer, Moritz Haarig, Albert Ansmann, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 297–311, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-297-2017,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-297-2017, 2017
Short summary
15 Nov 2016
Aerosol arriving on the Caribbean island of Barbados: physical properties and origin
Heike Wex, Katrin Dieckmann, Greg C. Roberts, Thomas Conrath, Miguel A. Izaguirre, Susan Hartmann, Paul Herenz, Michael Schäfer, Florian Ditas, Tina Schmeissner, Silvia Henning, Birgit Wehner, Holger Siebert, and Frank Stratmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 14107–14130, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14107-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-14107-2016, 2016
Short summary
04 Nov 2016
Particle size traces modern Saharan dust transport and deposition across the equatorial North Atlantic
Michèlle van der Does, Laura F. Korte, Chris I. Munday, Geert-Jan A. Brummer, and Jan-Berend W. Stuut
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 13697–13710, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-13697-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-13697-2016, 2016
Short summary
20 Sep 2016
Saharan dust long-range transport across the Atlantic studied by an airborne Doppler wind lidar and the MACC model
Fernando Chouza, Oliver Reitebuch, Angela Benedetti, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 11581–11600, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11581-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11581-2016, 2016
16 Sep 2016
Saharan dust contribution to the Caribbean summertime boundary layer – a lidar study during SALTRACE
Silke Groß, Josef Gasteiger, Volker Freudenthaler, Thomas Müller, Daniel Sauer, Carlos Toledano, and Albert Ansmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 11535–11546, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11535-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-11535-2016, 2016
Short summary
14 Apr 2016
Vertical wind retrieved by airborne lidar and analysis of island induced gravity waves in combination with numerical models and in situ particle measurements
Fernando Chouza, Oliver Reitebuch, Michael Jähn, Stephan Rahm, and Bernadett Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 4675–4692, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4675-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4675-2016, 2016
Short summary
03 Mar 2016
Properties of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the trade wind marine boundary layer of the western North Atlantic
Thomas B. Kristensen, Thomas Müller, Konrad Kandler, Nathalie Benker, Markus Hartmann, Joseph M. Prospero, Alfred Wiedensohler, and Frank Stratmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 2675–2688, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-2675-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-2675-2016, 2016
Short summary
21 Jan 2016
Investigations of boundary layer structure, cloud characteristics and vertical mixing of aerosols at Barbados with large eddy simulations
M. Jähn, D. Muñoz-Esparza, F. Chouza, O. Reitebuch, O. Knoth, M. Haarig, and A. Ansmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 651–674, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-651-2016,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-651-2016, 2016
Short summary
06 Oct 2015
Optical properties of long-range transported Saharan dust over Barbados as measured by dual-wavelength depolarization Raman lidar measurements
S. Groß, V. Freudenthaler, K. Schepanski, C. Toledano, A. Schäfler, A. Ansmann, and B. Weinzierl
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 11067–11080, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11067-2015,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11067-2015, 2015
Short summary
21 Jul 2015
Retrieval of aerosol backscatter and extinction from airborne coherent Doppler wind lidar measurements
F. Chouza, O. Reitebuch, S. Groß, S. Rahm, V. Freudenthaler, C. Toledano, and B. Weinzierl
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 2909–2926, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2909-2015,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2909-2015, 2015
CC BY 4.0