Open AccessModeling the role of mineral aerosols in global climate cycles
Author(s) -
Tegen Ina,
Harrison Sandy P.,
Kohfeld Karen E.,
McTainsh Grant
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2002eo000292
Subject(s) - environmental science , mineral dust , climate model , biogeochemical cycle , climatology , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , aerosol , economic shortage , climate change , geography , geology , ecology , linguistics , oceanography , philosophy , government (linguistics) , biology
Mineral aerosols play multiple roles in the global system, but the magnitude of their impact on climate and global biogeochemical cycles remains uncertain. The extent to which atmospheric dust concentrations warm or cool the climate is still poorly quantified, as it depends on factors such as the physical and radiative characteristics of dust. Dust‐cycle models must be improved before dust impacts can be more reliably predicted. Progress in this direction is hindered by a shortage of global data sets to determine model input parameters on multiple spatial scales and data sets to comprehensively validate model simulations. A workshop, which was recently held in Germany, brought experts together to formulate strategies for using existing global data sets and creating new data sets to improve model parameterizations and model evaluation.