Coral-based reconstruction of dust emission and precipitation patterns from the Sahara-Sahel region

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This project will investigate the application of helium-4 in corals as a geochemical proxy to reconstruct high-resolution atmospheric dust loading and precipitation patterns in the tropical Atlantic and Red Sea. The primary objectives of this research will be to extend the record of Sahel dust export over the Atlantic back to the early-part of the 19th century, to elucidate dust transport processes by comparing the proxy record of dust obtained in corals from across the Atlantic Ocean basin, and to reconstruct a 300 years dust flux record from the Sahara and Sahel region at sub-decadal resolution. Reconstructed dust flux data will be used as a benchmark for model simulation verification in order to better predict future dust emission form the Sahara and Sahel regions. The Broader Impacts include research on an important societal issue related to global warming/change. This project will involve undergraduate students during the research phase of the work.