Open AccessNew Saharan wind observations reveal substantial biases in analysed dust‐generating winds
Author(s) -
Roberts Alexander J.,
Marsham John H.,
Knippertz Peter,
Parker Douglas J.,
Bart Mark,
GarciaCarreras Luis,
Hobby Matthew,
McQuaid James B.,
Rosenberg Philip D.,
Walker Daniel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.765
Subject(s) - climatology , monsoon , environmental science , global wind patterns , range (aeronautics) , atmospheric sciences , wind speed , geography , meteorology , geology , materials science , composite material
The Sahara is the largest source of airborne mineral dust on Earth. New data from the Fennec field campaign from remote Sahara allow evaluation of ECMWF ERA‐Interim analysed winds. High winds and diurnal variation are under‐represented in analyses, which perform less well during the summer monsoon (even in the isolated central Sahara). Analyses do not capture the seasonal cycle, missing the summertime maximum in winds in the central Sahara summer time dust hotspot.