Collaborative Research: P2C2--Dust Interactions with Climate in the African Humid Period

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This project explores dust deposition during the African Humid Period (~8,000-5,000 years before present) in North Africa. This region is a significant source region for desert dust today and data suggest that the area was much wetter during the Humid Period and, as a consequence, less of a source of dust. The research team aims to examine the role of dust during this time period as follows: i) compile available desert dust deposition records for this time period; ii) simulate desert dust in the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) and match the available data; and iii) evaluate the impact of dust radiative forcing on climate during this time period. The primary broader impacts involve supporting undergraduate and graduate students as well as helping improve the characterization of aerosols in the CCSM. Improving aerosols for the CCSM has a wide appeal to a broad spectrum of atmospheric scientists.