Global Dust Transport as Observed by A-train Satellites

This paper presented a new height-resolved view of global dust transport based on 2007-2010 Atrain observations. First, a new dust identification methodology was developed to improve optically thin dust layer detection. Second a new dust partition methodology was developed and applied to CALIPSO lidar measurements to derive dust partitions in external mixed aerosols. These new approaches allow a new view of global dust distribution from dense dust layers near the strong source regions to the optically thin, but significant dust layers from the point of view of aerosol– cloud interactions, over the weak source regions, the transport areas, and the upper troposphere. The results will not only help us to better understand global dust transport and dust-cloud interactions, but also provide critical information for model evaluations and improvements.