Note: Intro -- Preface -- Personal Notes by the Editors -- Peter Knippertz -- Jan-Berend W. Stuut -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Contributors -- About the Editors -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Why Study Dust? -- 1.2 A Short History of Dust Research -- 1.3 Recent Developments: Timeliness of This Book -- 1.4 Outline and Structure of This Book -- References -- 2 On Composition, Morphology, and Size Distribution of Airborne Mineral Dust -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Composition -- 2.2.1 Mineralogical Data -- 2.2.2 Isotope Data -- 2.2.3 Elemental Data -- 2.3 Individual-Particle Analysis -- 2.3.1 Particle Shape and Morphology -- 2.4 Size Distributions -- 2.5 Discussion and Conclusions -- 2.5.1 Direct Radiative Forcing -- 2.5.2 Indirect Radiative Forcing -- 2.5.3 Ecosystem Nutrient Supply and Human Health Effects -- References -- 3 Identifying Sources of Aeolian Mineral Dust: Present and Past -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Processes of Dust Particle Formation -- 3.3 Methods of Identifying Contemporary Dust Sources -- 3.3.1 Geomorphic Perspectives on Dust Sources -- 3.3.2 Aerosol Indexes (AI) Derived from the Orbiting TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) -- 3.3.3 MODIS and MISR Imagery from the Terra and Aqua Satellites -- 3.3.4 Back-Trajectory Analyses to Identify Dust Sources -- 3.4 Identification of Past Dust Sources -- 3.4.1 Geomorphic Evidence of Past Dust Sources -- 3.4.2 Physical Properties of Dust Deposits -- 3.4.3 Mineralogy as a Guide to Dust Sources -- 3.4.4 Geochemical Methods of Identifying Dust Sources -- 3.4.5 Isotopic Methods of Identifying Dust Sources -- 3.4.6 Biologic Methods of Identifying Dust Sources -- 3.5 Conclusion -- References -- 4 Processing and Ageing in the Atmosphere -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Physical Processing -- 4.3 Chemical Processing -- 4.3.1 Impacts on Physical Properties of Dust -- 4.3.2 Impacts on Dust Reactivity. , 4.3.3 Impacts on Atmospheric Composition -- Nitric Acid and Nitrogen Oxides -- Sulphur Species -- Ozone -- Other Inorganic and Organic Species -- 4.4 Conclusion -- References -- 5 Dust Production Mechanisms -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 General Understanding -- 5.3 Erosion Threshold -- 5.3.1 Influence of Soil Particle Size -- 5.3.2 Influence of Soil Moisture -- 5.3.3 Influence of Surface Roughness -- 5.3.4 Other Factors -- 5.4 Saltation -- 5.5 Dust Emission -- 5.5.1 Empirical Approaches -- 5.5.2 Physically Based Models -- 5.5.3 Models Versus Observations -- 5.6 Conclusion -- References -- 6 Meteorological Aspects of Dust Storms -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Large-Scale Circulations -- 6.3 Synoptic-Scale Aspects -- 6.3.1 Cyclone Dominated Dust Events -- 6.3.2 Anticyclone Dominated Dust Events -- 6.3.3 Dynamics and Character of Dust Fronts -- 6.4 Moist Convection -- 6.5 Dry Convection -- 6.6 Diurnal Variations -- 6.7 Topographic Effects -- 6.8 Modelling -- 6.9 Conclusion -- References -- 7 Dust Observations and Climatology -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Observational Systems -- 7.3 Applications -- 7.3.1 Source Regions -- Regional Data from Geostationary Satellite -- Global Data from Polar-Orbiting Satellite -- 7.3.2 Transport -- General Features -- AOD, Dust Discrimination and Dust Above Clouds -- 7.3.3 Interannual Variability and Trends -- 7.3.4 Vertical Structure -- 7.4 Conclusion -- References -- 8 Dust Deposition -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Deposition Processes -- 8.2.1 Dry Deposition -- Gravitational Settling Velocity -- Aerodynamic and Quasi-laminar Resistances -- 8.2.2 Wet Deposition -- Brownian Diffusion -- Interception -- Inertial Impaction -- 8.2.3 Particle Size Distribution and Deposition in Dust Models -- 8.3 Dust Deposition Measurements -- 8.4 The Uncertainties in the Simulated Dust Mass Budget -- 8.5 Conclusion -- References. , 9 Numerical Dust Models -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Dust Emission Modelling -- 9.3 Model Representation of Dust Source Properties -- 9.4 Role of Meteorology in Dust Emission and Transport -- 9.5 Deposition -- 9.6 Optical Properties of Dust Used in Dust Models -- 9.7 Regional Dust Models -- 9.8 Global Dust Models -- 9.9 Conclusion -- References -- 10 Operational Dust Prediction -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.1.1 Motivation for Dust Forecasting -- 10.1.2 A Brief History of Dust Forecasting -- 10.1.3 Specific Challenges in Dust Prediction -- 10.2 Dust Prediction Models -- 10.2.1 Global Models -- ECMWF/MACC Aerosol Prediction System -- FNMOC Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System -- JMA Operational Dust Forecast Model -- Met Office Dust Prediction System -- NASA GEOS-5 Aerosol Forecasting System -- NCEP/NGAC Global Aerosol Forecasting System -- NMMB/BSC-Dust Model -- 10.2.2 Regional Models -- CHIMERE Model -- CUACE/Dust -- The DREAM/BSC-DREAM8b Models -- FNMOC Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) -- Regional Mineral Dust Forecast Model in Taiwan -- 10.3 Multi-model Ensembles -- 10.3.1 The International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) Multi-model Ensemble -- 10.3.2 WMO SDS Regional Dust Prediction Multi-model Ensemble -- 10.4 Data Assimilation for Dust Prediction -- 10.4.1 Introduction -- 10.4.2 Main Concepts -- 10.5 Evaluation of Atmospheric Dust Prediction Models -- 10.5.1 General Concepts -- 10.5.2 Observational Data for Evaluation -- 10.5.3 Metrics -- 10.5.4 Examples of Near Real-Time Evaluation -- The WMO SDS-WAS Dust Model Evaluation Initiative -- The MACC-II Evaluation -- Case Study Evaluation -- 10.6 Conclusion -- Appendix A: Technical Aspects of Data Assimilationfor Dust Prediction -- A10.1 Assimilation Techniques -- Variational Methods (CMA, ECMWF, FNMOC/NRL, Met Office, NASA GMAO). , Kalman Filter and Ensemble Kalman Filter Methods (MRI/JMA, NRL) -- A10.2 Observations Used for the Dust Analyses -- Main Products -- Data Quality Aspects and Bias Correction -- A10.3 Definitions of Background and Observational Errors -- Background Error Covariance Matrices -- Flow-Dependent Background Error Covariance Matrix -- Observation Errors -- References -- 11 Radiative Effects of Dust -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Optical Properties of Dust -- 11.2.1 Definition of Optical Properties -- 11.2.2 Methods of Characterising Dust Optical Properties -- 11.2.3 Sensitivity of Optical Properties to Size and Composition: An Illustrative Example -- 11.2.4 Measurements of Single-Scattering Albedo -- 11.3 Measurements and Estimates of Radiative Effect -- 11.4 Implications of Dust-Radiation Interactions for Satellite Retrievals -- 11.5 Dust and Visibility -- 11.6 Implications for Including the Radiative Impact of Dust in Models -- References -- 12 Mineral Dust and its Microphysical Interactions with Clouds -- 12.1 CCN, IN, and Their Impacts on Clouds, the Hydrological Cycle, and Climate -- 12.2 The CCN Activity of Mineral Dust -- 12.3 The IN Activity of Mineral Dust -- 12.4 Field Observations of Dust CCN Activity/Hygroscopicity -- 12.5 Field Observations of Mineral Dust as IN -- 12.6 Laboratory Experiments on Mineral Dust CCN -- 12.7 Laboratory Experiments on Mineral Dust IN -- 12.8 Modeling Studies on the Interaction of Dust with Clouds -- 12.9 Conclusion -- References -- 13 Impact of Dust Radiative Forcing upon Climate -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Radiative Forcing by Dust Aerosols -- 13.3 Dust Radiative Impacts upon Climate -- 13.3.1 Temperature -- 13.3.1.1 Temperature Adjustment in Convectively Mixed Regions -- 13.3.1.2 Temperature Adjustment in Subsiding Regions -- 13.3.2 Precipitation -- 13.3.2.1 The Global Anomaly -- 13.3.2.2 Regional Anomalies. , 13.4 Feedback of Climate Anomalies upon the Dust Cycle -- 13.4.1 Surface Wind Speed and Dust Mobilization -- 13.4.2 Vegetation and Dust Source Extent -- 13.5 Conclusion -- References -- 14 Biogeochemical Impacts of Dust on the Global Carbon Cycle -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Biogeochemical Impacts of Dust on Terrestrial Systems -- 14.2.1 Soil Formation -- 14.2.2 Nutrient Supply -- 14.3 Biogeochemical Impacts of Dust Deposition on the Oceans -- 14.4 Conclusion -- References -- 15 Dust and Human Health -- 15.1 Introduction -- 15.2 Review of Air Pollution Basics -- 15.3 Human Exposure Pathways -- 15.4 Characteristics That Contribute to Observed Health Effects -- 15.4.1 Particle Size and Composition -- 15.4.2 Microorganisms in Dust -- 15.4.3 Mechanisms of Action -- 15.4.4 Exposure and Susceptibility -- 15.5 Ailments Associated with Airborne Dusts -- 15.5.1 Asthma -- 15.5.2 Meningitis -- 15.5.3 Hospitalization and Mortality Related to Intercontinental Dust -- 15.5.4 Exposures to Agricultural Dusts -- 15.5.5 Other Potential Risks Related to MD Exposures: Pneumoconioses -- 15.6 Conclusion -- References -- 16 Loess Records -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 Definition of Loess -- 16.3 Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Loess -- 16.4 Genesis of Loess Deposits -- 16.5 Loess Stratigraphy -- 16.6 Loess Geochronology -- 16.7 Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Loess Deposits -- 16.8 Global Loess Deposits -- 16.8.1 Europe -- 16.8.2 Africa and the Middle East -- 16.8.3 Asia -- 16.8.4 Australia and New Zealand -- 16.8.5 South America -- 16.8.6 North America -- 16.9 Conclusion -- References -- 17 Subaquatic Dust Deposits -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 From Desert Source to Subaquatic Sink: Dust Transport Processes -- 17.3 Wind-blown Dust in Subaqueous Sedimentary Archives: A Recorder of Environmental Changes -- 17.3.1 Lacustrine Dust Archives. , 17.3.2 Marine Dust Archives.