EAGER Collaborative Research: Exploring dust impacts on terrestrial ecosystem processes using an innovative and integrated approach

矿物尘埃构成了地圈、大气层、生物圈和水圈之间的关键纽带。矿物粉尘是质量最丰富的大气气溶胶之一，通过其对气候和生物地球化学的影响，可以影响许多生态系统过程。粉尘为生态系统提供了重要的限制营养物质和有毒污染物，对元素循环具有长期影响。该项目将解决有关尘埃对陆地生态系统过程的影响的相当大的不确定性，包括湿尘埃沉积、碳吸收和蒸散。它将最大限度地从公开的数据中获得经济和社会回报，为下一代科学工作者提供培训，并扩大未被充分代表的群体在科学领域的参与。这一高度跨学科的项目将为测试一个综合框架奠定基础，以便在历史性干旱期间概念化沙尘事件、沙尘汇和生态系统相互作用。它将：(1)描述大范围严重至异常干旱期间的沙尘事件的特征；2)分析湿沙尘沉积的化学成分并量化其大小；(3)量化沙尘事件对生态系统光能利用效率、水利用效率和碳固存的影响。该项目将研究和教育与各级学生结合起来，包括共同努力招收代表性不足的学生。该小组将制作一个关于干旱和半干旱地区干旱和沙尘的讲座和实验室模块。该项目将有助于一名早期职业生涯和一名博士后学者(包括女性和西班牙裔)的职业发展。

Mineral dust constitutes a critical nexus between the geosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. One of the most abundant atmospheric aerosols by mass, mineral dust can influence numerous ecosystem processes through its effects on climate and biogeochemistry. Dust supplies essential limiting nutrients as well as toxic pollutants to ecosystems, with long-term implications for elemental cycling. This project will address the considerable uncertainties regarding dust influence on terrestrial ecosystem processes, including wet dust deposition, carbon uptake, and evapotranspiration. It will maximize financial and societal return from publicly available data, provide training for the next generation scientific workforce, and broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in science.This highly interdisciplinary project will develop the foundation for testing an integrative framework for conceptualizing dust events, dust sinks, and ecosystem interactions during a period of historic drought. It will: (1) characterize dust events during a period of widespread severe to exceptional drought; 2) analyze the chemical composition and quantify the magnitude of wet dust deposition; (3) quantify the influence of dust events on ecosystem light use efficiency, water use efficiency, and carbon sequestration. The project integrates research and education with students at all levels, including a concerted effort to recruit underrepresented students. The team will produce a lecture and laboratory module on drought and dust in arid and semi-arid regions. The project will contribute to the career development of one early career and one postdoctoral scholar (both female and Hispanic).