Atmospheric transport of aerosols and trace gases over southern Africa

Abstract

Atmospheric transport of airborne material over and out of a region has important consequences for global change. In this article, recent developments concerning the transport of air, aerosols and trace gases in the troposphere over southern Africa will be examined. Regional circulation patterns affecting horizontal advection of aerosols and trace gases and the thermodynamic controls modifying their vertical transport are considered. From trajectory dispersion fields, preferred transport pathways over and out of southern Africa are determined, as too is the extent of recirculation taking place over the subcontinent. Estimates of the mass fluxes of aerosols are given and the consequences of increasing aerosol loading in the atmosphere are examined.