Impact of African Dust on the Climate and Ecology in Florida and Neighboring Regions

Impact of African Dust on the Climate and Ecology in Florida and Neighboring Regions

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of African dust on the climate and ecology in Florida, starting from a literature review. In the atmosphere, satellite remote sensing can now track the intercontinental transport of airborne particles. African dust has been frequently observed in the Caribbean and Southeast United States during summer months. Dust from the Sahara Desert can have complicated effects on clouds over Florida, for example, by reducing rainfall in low-altitude clouds while enhancing it in high-altitude clouds. However, the coherent links between African dust and Florida clouds, and the underlying physical and chemical mechanisms, need to be better understood by further work. In the soils on the Florida Keys and the islands in the Bahamas, African dust appears to make a major contribution to the soil components. Analysis of trace elements (sc, Cr, Th and Zr) and rare earth elements helps determine the origin of soils. In the shores of Florida, African dust has been found to initiate the toxic red tides (algal bloom) via the production of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Recent research has shown that red tides may cause respiratory and cardiac morbidity in humans and disturb marine ecosystems. Based on the literature review, research plans and methodologies will be proposed.