Research Spotlight

Monsoon

Can Anthropogenic Absorbing Aerosols Affect the Indian Summer Monsoon?

The Asian monsoons affect the livelihood of billions of people. Rapid economic development over the region in the past decades unfortunately has also created abundance of air pollutants such as black carbon aerosols. The Wang group has studied the potential impacts of these particulate pollutants on the monsoonal circulation and precipitation pattern. Using an interactive aerosol-climate model combining with surface rainfall data, they have found that the anthropogenic absorbing aerosols could cause the Indian summer monsoon to come earlier and also a shift in monsoonal rainfall pattern, all in a coincidence with past observed trend.

Learn more about the Wang group’s research here.

Research Spotlight:

dustdeposition

Nutrients transported between continents

Recent work in the Heald group has investigated the processes controlling the emissions, export and transport of dust from North Africa more than 3000 km across the Atlantic. The fraction of dust that is ultimately deposited over South America is a critical source of phosphorous to the Amazon, supporting the rainforest’s growth and productivity.

Learn more about the Heald group’s research here.

 

Research Spotlight:

ecosystem-spotlight1

Tracking Toxic Pollutants to the Arctic

Work in the Selin group uses global modeling tools to explore how persistent organic pollutants (POPs) reach the Arctic. Once there, they pose risks to Arctic ecosystems and populations. During their transport, POPs can undergo chemical reactions, partitioning to atmospheric particles, and wet and dry deposition. Models are tools that help us constrain these processes, and identify the sources of Arctic pollution.

Learn more about the Selin group’s research here