The role of convective plumes and vortices on the global aerosol budget

Atmospheric aerosols produce both a direct radiative forcing by scattering and absorbing solar and infrared radiation, and an indirect radiative forcing by altering cloud processes. Therefore, it is essential to understand the physical processes that contribute to the global aerosol budget. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that mineral dust contributes to similar to 1/3 of all primary particle emissions to the atmosphere. The significance of mineral dust aerosol becomes evident when one considers the large surface area of arid and semi-arid regions on most continents. It is evident from observations in the U.S. Southwest that convective plumes and vortices lift large quantities of desert dust. Here, we use a combination of observational data and theory to determine the role of convective plumes and vortices on the global aerosol budget. We show that convective plumes and vortices contribute to about 35% of the global budget of mineral dust.