Publications by authors named "Sebastian Engelstaedter"
Dust as a tipping element: the Bodele Depression, Chad.
Richard Washington Christel Bouet Guy Cautenet Elisabeth Mackenzie Ian Ashpole Sebastian Engelstaedter
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
December 2009
Article Synopsis
- Dust is crucial for climate and biophysical feedbacks, with the Bodélé Depression in Chad being a major source, producing about half of the Sahara's mineral aerosols.
- Our study uses advanced remote sensing, modeling, and chemical analyses to explore how slight changes in atmospheric circulation could significantly impact dust behavior in this region.
- Historical data shows that dust production from Bodélé stopped during the mid-Holocene, but some future climate simulations suggest a possible substantial increase in dust output by the end of the 21st century.
Article Synopsis
- Atmospheric iron inputs are believed to influence ocean biogeochemistry, with desert dust contributing about 95% and combustion sources the remaining 5% to the global iron cycle.
- Human activities may significantly alter desert dust contributions, potentially affecting up to 50% of the natural input.
- The sources and speciation of bioavailable iron remain poorly understood, suggesting that human impacts on both iron and bioavailable iron deposition to oceans could be significant, though uncertainties persist.