A global analysis of diurnal variability in dust and dust mixture using CATS observations

The current study investigates the diurnal cycle of dust and dust mixture loading across the global tropics, subtropics, and mid-latitudes by analyzing aerosol extinction and typing profiles observed by the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar aboard the International Space Station. According to the comparison with ground-based and other satellite observations, CATS aerosol and dust and dust mixture loading observations exhibit reasonable quality but significant day-night inconsistency. To account for this day-night inconsistency in CATS data quality, the diurnal variability in dust and dust mixture characteristics is currently examined separately for daytime and nighttime periods. Based on an analysis of variance (ANOVA) analytical framework, pronounced diurnal variations in dust and dust mixture loading are generally uncovered during daytime periods and over terrestrial areas. The current study identifies statistically significant diurnal variability in dust and dust mixture loading over key dust sources, including the Bodele Depression, the West African El Djouf, Rub' al-Khali desert, and western and southern North America, confirming the previous observation-based findings regarding the diurnal cycle of dust emission and underlying meteorological processes in these regions. Significant seasonal and diurnal variability in dust and dust mixture is identified over the Iraqi and Thar deserts. The identified significant diurnal cycles in dust mixture loading over the vegetated regions in the Amazon and tropical southern Africa are hypothesized to be driven by enhanced dust emission due to wildfires.

Automated summary

The current study investigates the diurnal cycle of dust and dust mixture loading across different regions by analyzing aerosol extinction and typing profiles observed by the CATS lidar aboard the International Space Station. The study identifies significant day-night inconsistency in CATS data quality, and reveals pronounced diurnal variations in dust and dust mixture loading during daytime periods and over terrestrial areas. This study confirms previous findings regarding the diurnal cycle of dust emission in key dust sources and identifies significant seasonal and diurnal variability in dust and dust mixture loading over specific regions.