Project title: The role of High Latitude Dust in changing climate
Project number: 20-06168Y
Project duration: 1. 1. 2020 – 31. 12. 2022
Project coordinator: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Programme: GAČR
Program: Juniorské projekty
Project leader: Mgr. Pavla Dagsson Waldhauserová, Ph.D.
Contact person: Mgr. Vít Štengl
Project budget: 3 390 000 CZK
Project abstract:
High latitude dust (HLD) is a critical risk to the climate and biodiversity in the Arctic and Antarctica. HLD sources cover more than 500 000 km2 and contribute more than 5% to global dust budget. It accelerates climate change via dust-snow/glacier feedback (albedo reduction,melting after dust deposition) and directly and indirectly (cloud microphysics) affects the radiative properties in the atmosphere. HLD storms impair the air quality causing damages to health, affects the economy by disrupting transportation, and disturbs vulnerable ecosystems by enhanced erosion. However, HLD is largely ignored as a climate forcer in the earth sys. models and no dust warnings are issued for extreme events to protect the safety. HLD-CHANGE will provide scientific evidence base for developing measures to mitigate the risks HLD poses on human society and environment (air quality monitoring, HLD phys./chem./opt. properties, dust forecasting/warning, snow/glacier changes, marine ecosystem responses), as well as to identify opportunities arising from climate change to minimize HLD negative impacts on HL environments.
Project aim:
- High Latitude Dust (HLD) monitoring in Polar Regions to understand impacts on atmosphere, cryosphere, climate, environment
- Coordinate HLD network
- Assess climate impacts of HLD for AMAP, IPCC reports (PA3, sa.1,2)
- Implement HLD into global dust forecast model under WMO SDS-WAS (PA6, sa.1,2)