Radiation forces on small particles in the solar system

Interplanetary objects in review: Statistics of their masses and dynamics

Orbital and physical characteristics of micrometeoroids in the inner solar system as observed by Helios 1

There is great interest in wind-borne mineral dust because of the role that dust plays in climate by modulating solar radiation and cloud properties. Today, much research focuses on North Africa because it is Earth’s largest and most persistently active dust source. Moreover, this region is expected to be greatly impacted by climate change, which would affect dust emission rates. Interest in dust was stimulated over 50 years ago when it was discovered that African dust was frequently transported across the Atlantic in great quantities. Here we report on the initial discovery of African dust in the Caribbean Basin. We show that there were three independent “first” discoveries of African dust in the 1950s through the 1960s. In each case, the discoverers were not seeking dust but, rather, they had other research objectives. The meteorological context of African dust transport was first elucidated in 1969 with the characterization of the Saharan air layer (SAL) and its role in effecting the efficient transport of African dust over great distances to the Western Hemisphere. The link between dust transport and African climate was established in the 1970s and 1980s when dust transport to the Caribbean increased greatly following the onset of severe drought in the Sahel. Here we chronicle these events and show how they contributed to our current state of knowledge.

/pdf/the-discovery-of-african-dust-transport-to-the-western-41x3wumabm.pdf

The Discovery of African Dust Transport to the Western Hemisphere and the Saharan Air Layer: A History

As the result of many observable optical phenomena, the occasional existence of upper atmospheric aerosols has been known since the beginning of the Century. Nevertheless, it is only during the last two decades that their persistent nature and extent of global distribution have become recognized. This review is addressed to the chemistry of upper atmospheric aerosols with particular attention to the chemical reactions and nucleation mechanisms responsible for their formation. Considering the stratosphere, it is now generally agreed that sulfate, mainly in the form of sulfuric acid, represents the single most abundant constituent of stratospheric aerosols. There is now strong evidence that these aerosols are formed in situ from sulfur bearing gases oxidized by free radicals. The various nucleation processes of atmospheric importance are reviewed, and it is shown that heteromolecular nucleation processes are almost certainly responsible for new particle formation in the stratosphere. The nature, and even existence, of aerosol layers above the stratosphere is less certain. The influx of extraterrestrial materials into the Earth atmosphere is estimated to be in the order of 50 to 500 tons per day. Considerations are given to the possible mechanisms which convert these materials to aerosol size particles. Although these particles provide one possible explanation for the appeareance of noctilucent clouds, nucleation about ions, most probably H3O+ hydrates, is a strong contender as a more plausible formation mechanism. Considerable attention is given to this important atmospheric process, where it is shown that chemical forces contribute to the stability of the prenucleation clusters and the overall height of the energy barrier to nucleation. Finally, the role of aerosols in the sodium and other cycles of trace upper atmospheric constituents, is discussed.

Nucleation processes and aerosol chemistry

Interplanetary dust measurements near earth compared to theories predicting dust characteristics, discussing concentration, flux, impact rate and solar radiation pressure

Interplanetary dust measurements near the Earth

Nature and Origin of Zodiacal Dust

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Interplanetary dust measurements near the Earth

Nature and Origin of Zodiacal Dust