CAREER: The Size of the Global Dust Cycle and its Radiative Impact on Climate

在任何给定的时间，地球的大气层都含有数千万吨的沙漠尘埃。令人惊讶的是，关于这些大量尘埃对气候的影响的许多基本问题仍然鲜为人知。大气中究竟有多少尘埃？沙漠尘埃是使地球变暖还是变冷？未来气候引起的沙尘暴变化是反对还是加强人为气候变化？该项目将利用卫星观测、大气尘埃及其性质的实验测量以及沙漠尘埃气候影响的气候模型模拟，来解决这些基本问题。此外，该项目将通过建立研究强化学习助理计划，整合加州大学洛杉矶分校大气和海洋科学系的教育和研究活动。研究将有助于更好地了解沙漠沙尘的流行及其对气候的影响，并加强对区域和全球气候变化的预测，从而帮助制定政策，以适应或缓解未来的气候变化。此外，项目成果将有助于更好地了解粉尘对天气、生物圈、空气质量和人类健康的影响。最后，研究增强学习助理计划将改善地学学生的学习、招聘和留住，特别是对代表性不足的少数群体。

At any given time, the Earth's atmosphere contains tens of millions of metric tons of desert dust. Surprisingly, many basic questions regarding the effects of these vast quantities of dust on climate remain poorly known. How much dust is actually in the atmosphere? Does desert dust warm or cool our planet? Will future climate-induced changes in dust storms oppose or enhance man-made climate changes? This project will address these fundamental questions by leveraging satellite observations, experimental measurements of atmospheric dust and its properties, and climate model simulations of desert dust climate impacts. In addition, this project will integrate educational and research activities at UCLA's department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences through the establishment of a Research-Enhanced Learning Assistant program.The research will lead to improved understanding of desert dust's prevalence and its climate impacts as well as enhance forecasts of regional and global climate changes, thereby helping to inform policies to adapt to or mitigate future climate changes. Furthermore, the project results will facilitate improved understanding of dust impacts on weather, the biosphere, air quality, and human health. Finally, the Research-Enhanced Learning Assistant program will improve learning, recruitment, and retention of geosciences students, and especially of under-represented minorities.