Physical, chemical and optical properties of Australian desert dust: a multiple analysis from several sites

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorRadhi, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorBox, MAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBox, GPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMitchell, RMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKeywood, MDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFrench, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorCohen, DDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorStelcer, Een_AU
dc.date.accessioned2009-11-16en_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-30T04:57:54Zen_AU
dc.date.available2009-11-16en_AU
dc.date.available2010-04-30T04:57:54Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2008-09en_AU
dc.date.statistics2008-09en_AU
dc.description.abstractAustralian dust aerosol was sampled at two desert locations, Birdsville (25.54 S, 139.20 E) and Muloorina (29.14 S, 137.64 E), using a 12-stage MOUDI sampler. Backgound TSP levels were 15.8 ± 3 μg/m3 at Birdsville, and 244 ± 10 μg/m3 at Muloorina. Ion beam analysis shows that the following elements are dominant at both sites: Na, Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Ti and Fe. Sulphur is the only pollutant element that occurred in the Muloorina analysis due to local vegetation burning. Weather conditions during sampling at Birdsville were classified as non-dusty to weak dust. At Muloorina we had different weather conditions: non-dust, weak dust and dust storm. The concentrations of the element loading in the atmosphere varied with weather conditions. The mass ratio of the other elements to Al also varied with the weather conditions. For both sites Fe occurred in fine and coarse size ranges, appearing strongly in the size range 1.8 to 10 μm in all events. The Fe/Al mass ratio was 1.97, 2.5, 0.96 and 1.02 for non dust, weak dust and north and south dust storm respectively at Muloorina, while at Birdsville the value was in the range 0.45 to 0.65, indicating Muloorina is rich in Fe. Both Na and Cl demonstrated a good correlation with Al as Australian desert dust also contains a mixture of salts from dry saline lakes. Selected filters are currently undergoing electron microscopy analysis in order to determine the mineralogical content, especially hematite vs. goethite. The monthly mean of the aerosol optical depth at Birdsville shows maximum values during summer (Feb. 0.06 ± 0.05) and spring (Oct. 0.11 ± 0.05), and minimum values in June (0.02 ± 0.001). The Ångström exponent was low (suggesting coarse particles) during summer and spring. The relationship between AOD and Ångström exponent shows a good pattern of decreasing α with increasing AOD, indicating the effects of dust particles.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research; Georgia Institute of Technologyen_AU
dc.identifier.citationRadhi, M., Box, M. A., Box, G. P., Mitchell, R. M., Keywood, M., & French, D., Cohen, D. D., & Stelcer, E. (2008). Physical, chemical and optical properties of Australian desert dust: a multiple analysis from several sites. Poster presented to the 3rd International Workshop on Mineral Dust, 15th – 17th September 2008. Leipzig, Germany: Leipziger KUBUS.en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate17 September 2008en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename3rd International Workshop on Mineral Dusten_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceLeipzig, Germanyen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate15 September 2008en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc1085en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/2289en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisher3rd International Workshop on Mineral Dusten_AU
dc.subjectDustsen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectAerosolsen_AU
dc.subjectDesertsen_AU
dc.subjectWeatheren_AU
dc.subjectSaltsen_AU
dc.titlePhysical, chemical and optical properties of Australian desert dust: a multiple analysis from several sitesen_AU
dc.typeConference Posteren_AU
Files
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.78 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Conference Publications