engleski

Saharan dust in Croatia

The Sahara is the world’s largest source of the aeolian desert dust. The dust can be entrained over large areas in dust storms, transported over thousands of kilometers and then deposited downwind. Saharan dust has a major influence on soil characteristics, oceanic productivity, air chemistry and climate. Most Saharan dust is deposited from the atmosphere over Mediterranean countries of southern Europe by dry or wet deposition. Here, the characteristics of Saharan dust episodes over part of the southern Europe (Croatia) will be shown. We tried to determine the frequency of mud rains over Croatia and investigated their influence on precipitation chemistry. Further on, we analyzed the influence of Saharan dust on the coarse fraction levels (PM10) at several measurement sites in Croatia. Saharan dust episodes were identified using satellite data and backward trajectories. In addition, synoptic situations prevailing during the investigated Saharan episodes were analyzed. Three main types of weather situations connected to the transport of the dust from Sahara desert to Croatia were revealed and their characteristics will be shown.

precipitation chemistry; PM10; TOMS; Hysplit

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