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

该项目探索非洲湿润时期(距今约8,000-5,000年)北非的尘埃沉积。这一地区是今天沙漠尘埃的重要来源地区，数据表明，该地区在湿润时期更加潮湿，因此尘埃来源较少。研究小组的目标是研究沙尘在这一时期的作用如下：i)汇编这一时期现有的沙漠沙尘沉积记录；ii)在社区气候系统模式(CCSM)中模拟沙漠沙尘并匹配现有数据；以及iii)评估沙尘辐射强迫在这一时期对气候的影响。主要的更广泛的影响包括支持本科生和研究生，以及帮助改善CCSM中气溶胶的特征。为CCSM改进气溶胶对广大大气科学家具有广泛的吸引力。

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.