Atlantic hurricane activity experienced a pronounced lull during the 1970s and 1980s. The authors propose that the radiative effects of sulfate aerosols from Europe and North America decreased precipitation in the Sahara-Sahel region, leading to increased dust emissions and transport over the Atlantic. This dust further depressed sea-surface temperatures and hurricane activity. The study shows that dust emissions peaked with sulfate aerosol optical thickness and Sahel drought conditions, and dust optical depth variations alone can explain nearly half of the sea-surface temperature depression during this period.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Aug 29, 2022
Authors
Raphaël Rousseau-Rizzi, Kerry Emanuel
Tags
Atlantic hurricanes
sulfate aerosols
dust emissions
sea-surface temperatures
Sahara-Sahel
climate impact
hurricane activity
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