Global Dust Transport as Observed by A-Train Satellites

This paper presented a new height-resolved view of global dust transport based on 2007-2010 A-train observations. First, a new dust identification methodology was developed to improve optically thin dust layer detection. Second a new dust partition methodology was developed and applied to CALIPSO lidar measurements to derive dust partitions in external mixed aerosols. These new approaches allow a new view of global dust distribution from dense dust layers near the strong source regions to the optically thin, but significant dust layers from the point of view of aerosol-cloud interactions, over the weak source regions, the transport areas, and the upper troposphere. The results will not only help us to better understand global dust transport and dust-cloud interactions, but also provide critical information for model evaluations and improvements.