Role of sea surface temperature and Saharan dust radiative forcing on the multi-decadal variation of rainfall over West Africa and northern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract:

Under the Second West African Monsoon Model Evaluation Experiments project (WAMME-2), we have carried out model experiments to investigate multi-decadal variation of sea surface temperature (SST), and Saharan dust radiative forcing on the West Africa Monsoon (WAM), and associated dust emission and transport of. Comparing experiments with prescribed SST during the 1980s to the 1950s, we find that SST forcing significant alter the large-scale circulation, rainfall, and the dust emissions and transport during these two decades. Colder SST over northern Atlantic Ocean in 1980s strengthened the subtropical high and expanded it southwestward, compared to the 1950’s. As a result, the rain band over the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Sahel moves southward, and rainfall is reduced over the Sahel. Stronger surface winds associated with enhanced surface temperature gradients increase dust emission in the southern Saharan desert and northern Sahel. Combined with circulation changes induced by strengthening the subtropical high and reduced wet deposition, dust transport is increased in the deep tropics (10-20N), but relatively reduced in the northern path (20-30N)

To examine the role of the increased dust aerosol radiative forcing, additional experiments are conducted with reduced dust shortwave absorption. With reduced atmospheric heating by dust aerosol, model still simulates aforementioned contrast between 1980s and 1950s, but the anomalies of Sahel drought and dust transports is weaker. The atmospheric heating due to shortwave absorption by dust provides additional buoyance and lifts dust particles to higher altitudes. Dust radiative forcing also increases meridional temperature gradients and strengthens the African Easterly Jet, resulting in an increased residence time of dust and farther westward transport. Increased dust loading and lifetime further enhance dryness over the Sahel, but bring more rain to the south of the dust region.