Aerosols modeling in the tropical Atlantic during the AERosol and Ocean Science Expedition (AEROSE 2009)

Air quality simulations using the chemistry transport model Weather Research and Forecast Chemistry (WRF-CHEM) were performed to study the behavior of aerosol on the tropical Atlantic during the month of July 2009. Aerosols have been show to be at its peak during the month of July in the tropical Atlantic due in part to mineral aerosols (Saharan dust) that travel across the Atlantic primarily during the boreal summer. The aim of this project was to observe how dust aerosols affected the tropospheric chemistry of key trace constituents like ozone during its journey to the Caribbean basin. Results from the simulations were compared with trace gases and aerosols data collected on the NOAA ship Ronal H. Brown during the AEROSE 2009 field campaign. Sensitivity studies were performed to elucidate the contribution of different processes to the chemistry of the area.