Potential Factors and Impacts of Long-Range Saharan Dust Transport on PM Concentrations in Central Europe
VLADIMÍRA VOLNÁ, Daniel Hladký, Marie Glofáková, Adéla Šmejkalová Holubová, Jáchym Brzezina, Adriana Šindelářová, Eva Houbová, Hana Škáchová, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute
Abstract Number: 62
Working Group: Aerosols, Clouds and Climate
Abstract
The poster presents the assessment of the massive transport of aerosol from the Sahara desert in the period between March and April 2024 in the Czech Republic. The transport of Saharan dust across Europe is not unusual. However, such high concentrations of PM10 have never before been measured in Central Europe in this context, causing smog alerts throughout the Czech Republic. This unusual episode was caused by a combination of several important factors. There was a massive and relatively constant increase in dust plumes from the North African desert region, combined with strong downslope winds behind mountain barriers in Central Europe. Prolonged very good dispersion conditions with a prevailing southwesterly direction of dry air masses at higher speeds also played a significant role. The combination of these factors also allowed dust plumes to pass through to low altitudes to the earth's surface over temperature inversions or even contributed to the breakdown of inversions.
The assessment provides as a basis for raising public awareness and for State Authorities and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. The assessment analyses are used to adjust legislation and rules for issuing warnings, smog alerts and regulations in the Czech Republic. New rules should therefore also take into account the influence of natural sources. Until now, only anthropogenic sources, especially industrial ones, have been taken into account in smog conditions.