Common Era Reconstructions of African Dust Transport to the Western North Atlantic

该项目旨在将先前发表的研究结果和分析与使用钍同位素的新分析测量相结合，以建立过去1500年来西大西洋（百慕大和巴哈马）尘埃沉积的记录，以调查尘埃与过去气候之间的关系。虽然沙尘气溶胶是气候系统的一个重要组成部分，可以通过辐射效应迫使地表温度发生变化，但它也可以对热带辐合带（ITCZ）的运动作出反应。这种气候-沙尘的相互联系及其对过去或未来气候的影响，特别是在北大西洋，需要了解北非来源的大气沙尘的相对变化以及沙尘输送的区域范围。该研究将解决三个关键问题：1)北非沙尘活动是否显著影响北大西洋海面温度；2)北非沙尘活动抑制了整个盆地的飓风频率；3)非洲沙尘排放和大西洋上的运输是否与ITCZ运动或其他气候指数一致？潜在的更广泛的影响包括更好地了解气候系统，为研究生提供支持，发展墨西哥湾沿岸地区的同事网络，以及为密西西比州和阿拉巴马州农村、内陆地区的教师举办为期三天的高中教师讲习班。在与USM海洋教育中心的协调下，研究人员将邀请来自服务不足地区的教师学习如何在教学中实施海洋和气候研究（包括非洲沙尘的影响）。这将包括教学研讨会，发展科学在一个球体的内容，参观研究实验室和沿海密西西比实地考察。讲习班活动还将包括后续行动，以保持与高中教师的联系，包括评估讲习班和课堂执行的有效性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to combine results and analyses from previous published research with new analytical measurements using Thorium isotopes to develop a record of dust deposition in the Western Atlantic (Bermuda and Bahamas) over the past 1,500 years to investigate relationships between dust and past climate.While dust aerosol is a critical component in the climate system and can force changes in surface temperatures through radiative effects, it can also respond to movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Such climate-dust interconnectivity and its effects on past or future climates, particularly in the North Atlantic, requires knowledge on the relative changes in atmospheric dust at the North African source as well as the regional extent of the dust transport.The research will address three key questions: 1) did North African dust activity significantly impact North Atlantic Sea surface temperatures; 2) did North African dust activity suppress basin-wide hurricane frequency; and 3) is African dust emission and transport over the Atlantic consistently linked with ITCZ movement or other climate indices?The potential Broader Impacts include a better understanding of the climate system, support for a graduate student, development of a network of colleagues in the Gulf Coast region, and a three-day High School Teacher Workshop for teachers from rural, inland areas of Mississippi and Alabama. In coordination with USM’s Marine Education Center, the researchers will engage teachers from underserved areas to learn how to implement ocean and climate research (including the impacts of African dust) into their teaching. This will involve teaching seminars, development of Science on a Sphere content, visits to research labs and a coastal Mississippi field trip. The Workshop activities will also include a follow-up to maintain connections with the High School teachers including an assessment of the workshop and the effectiveness of classroom implementation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.