scholarly journals Alignment of atmospheric mineral dust due to electric field

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 13203-13241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Ulanowski ◽  
J. Bailey ◽  
P. W. Lucas ◽  
J. H. Hough ◽  
E. Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Particle Orientation ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
La Palma ◽  
Partial Alignment ◽  
Vertically Aligned ◽  
Atmospheric Conductivity

Abstract. Optical polarimetry observations on La Palma, Canary Islands, during a Saharan dust episode show dichroic extinction consistent with the presence of vertically aligned particles in the atmosphere. Modelling of the extinction together with particle orientation indicates that the alignment could have been due to an electric field of the order of 2 kV/m. Two alternative mechanisms for the origin of the field are examined: the effect of reduced atmospheric conductivity and charging of the dust layer, the latter effect being a more likely candidate. It is concluded that partial alignment may be a common feature of Saharan dust layers. The modelling also indicates that the alignment can significantly alter dust optical depth. This "Venetian blind effect" may have decreased optical thickness in the vertical direction by as much as 10% for the case reported here.

scholarly journals Alignment of atmospheric mineral dust due to electric field

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 6161-6173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Ulanowski ◽  
J. Bailey ◽  
P. W. Lucas ◽  
J. H. Hough ◽  
E. Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Particle Orientation ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
Dust Transport ◽  
La Palma ◽  
Partial Alignment ◽  
Vertically Aligned ◽  
Atmospheric Conductivity

Abstract. Optical polarimetry observations on La Palma, Canary Islands, during a Saharan dust episode show dichroic extinction indicating the presence of vertically aligned particles in the atmosphere. Modelling of the extinction together with particle orientation indicates that the alignment could have been due to an electric field of the order of 2 kV/m. Two alternative mechanisms for the origin of the field are examined: the effect of reduced atmospheric conductivity and charging of the dust layer, the latter effect being a more likely candidate. It is concluded that partial alignment may be a common feature of Saharan dust layers. The modelling indicates that the alignment can significantly alter dust optical depth. This "Venetian blind effect" may have decreased optical thickness in the vertical direction by as much as 10% for the case reported here. It is also possible that the alignment and the electric field modify dust transport.

scholarly journals The Electrical Activity of Saharan Dust as perceived from Surface Electric Field Observations in Greece

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Daskalopoulou ◽  
Sotirios A. Mallios ◽  
Zbigniew Ulanowski ◽  
George Hloupis ◽  
Anna Gialitaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Strength ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Field Strength ◽  
Field Enhancement ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Lidar System ◽  
Realistic Description ◽  
Atmospheric Conductivity

Abstract. We report on the electric field variations during Saharan dust advection over two atmospheric remote stations in Greece, using synergistic observations of the vertical atmospheric electric field strength (Ez) at ground and the lidar-derived particle backscatter coefficient profiles. Both parameters were monitored for the first time with the simultaneous deployment of a ground-based field mill electrometer and a multiwavelength lidar system. The field mill timeseries are processed to extract the diurnal variations of the Global Electric Circuit and remove fast field perturbations due to peak lightning activity. In order to identify the influence of the elevated dust layers on the ground Ez, we extract a Localized Reference Electric Field from the timeseries that reflects the local fair weather activity. Then, we compare it with the reconstructed daily average behaviour of the electric field and the Saharan dust layers' evolution, as depicted by the lidar system. Reported cases of enhanced vertical electric field for detached pure dust layers suggest the presence of in-layer electric charges. Although higher dust loads are expected to result in electric field enhancement, episodic cases that reduce the electric field are also observed. To quantitatively approach our results, we examine the dependency of Ez against theoretical assumptions for the distribution of separated charges within the electrified dust layer. Electrically neutral dust is approximated by atmospheric conductivity reduction, while charge separation areas within electrically active dust layers are approximated as finite extent cylinders. This physical approximation constitutes a more realistic description of the distribution of charges, as opposed to infinite extent geometries, and allows for analytical solutions of the electric field strength, so that observed electric field variations during the monitored dust outbreaks can be explained.

A 3D Time-Dependent Model for the Study of the Electrification of Non Spherical Dust Particles due to Ion Attachment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sotirios Mallios ◽  
Vasiliki Daskalopoulou ◽  
Evangelos Skoubris ◽  
George Hloupis ◽  
Athanasios Papaioannou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Dust Cloud ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
The Past ◽  
Dependent Model ◽  
Ion Attachment ◽  
Atmospheric Conductivity ◽  
Time Dependent Model ◽  
Positively Charged

<p>Electrical processes can be a potential key player in the lifecycle of desert dust. The dust particles can be charged during their transport, either by the attachment of atmospheric ions or by particle to particle collisions (triboelectric effect). Measurements indicate that, on average, larger particles become positively charged while the smaller ones become negatively charged [<em>Zhao, H. L.</em>, J. Electrostat, 55, 2002; <em>Lacks, D.J.</em>, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 100, 188305, 2008; <em>Merrison, J.P.</em>, Aeolian Res., 4, 2012; <em>Shinbrot, T. and Herrmann, H.J.</em>, Nature, 451, 2008]. During dust transportation, the larger and mainly positively charged particles separate from the smaller negatively charged particles due to the gravitational sedimentation, which sorts the dust particles by size. This process develops vertical electric fields within the dust cloud, enhancing the pre-existing field due to the depletion of atmospheric conductivity by the presence of the dust layer [<em>Gringel W. and Mulheisen. R.</em>, Beitr. Phys. Atmos., 51, 121–8, 1978]. Depending on its strength, the total electric field within the dust cloud can: (a) counteract the gravitational settling of large particles and (b) cause a preferential orientation of the non-spherical particles along the vertical direction affecting particle aerodynamics [<em>Ulanowski, Z., et al.</em>, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 2007]. Therefore, electrical processes may alter dust removal processes, and thus the evolution of particle size during transport, affecting dust-radiation-cloud interactions and the associated air quality [<em>Sajani S.Z., et al.</em>, Occup. Environ. Med., 68(6), 2011], weather, and climate modeling [<em>Mahowald, N., et al.</em>, Aeolian Res., 15, 2014].</p><p>In the present work, we have developed a novel 3D Cartesian time-dependent model that takes into account several atmospheric processes, such as: (i) the ionization due to the galactic cosmic rays radiation, (ii) the ion-ion recombination, and (iii) the ion attachment to non spherical dust particles.  The model is able to self-consistently calculate the time dynamics of the atmospheric conductivity, and the atmospheric electric field, under the presence of a distribution of stationary non spherical dust particles. Additionally, the total charge density, dust particle charge and dust particle orientation are also quantified. The new 3D electrification formalism allows the study of dust layers without imposing any symmetry and  is valid for layers with any horizontal and vertical extend, as opposed to 1D models which are valid when the horizontal extend is much larger than the vertical, or to 2D models which assume a symmetry in the shape of the dust layer. The results are compared, in the limiting case that the horizontal extend is much larger than the vertical one, with those obtained from 1D models found in the past literature [e.g. <em>Zhou, L., Tinsley, B.A.</em>, Adv. Space Res. 50, 2012]. Moreover, the effect of the studied electrification process is assessed through a comparison with recent and unique electric field measurements within lofted dust layers, as performed with the use of novel low cost atmospheric electricity sensors in an experimental campaign of the D-TECT ERC project, in Cyprus the past November.</p>

Airborne measurements of dust layer properties, particle size distribution and mixing state of Saharan dust during SAMUM 2006

Tellus B ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadett Weinzierl ◽  
Andreas Petzold ◽  
Michael Esselborn ◽  
Martin Wirth ◽  
Katharina Rasp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Mixing State ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
Airborne Measurements

scholarly journals Radiative Effect and Mixing Processes of a Long-Lasting Dust Event over Athens, Greece, during the COVID-19 Period

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Kokkalis ◽  
Ourania Soupiona ◽  
Christina-Anna Papanikolaou ◽  
Romanos Foskinis ◽  
Maria Mylonaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Radiative Effect ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Dust Event ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Hysplit Model ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
Ground Based Lidar

We report on a long-lasting (10 days) Saharan dust event affecting large sections of South-Eastern Europe by using a synergy of lidar, satellite, in-situ observations and model simulations over Athens, Greece. The dust measurements (11–20 May 2020), performed during the confinement period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed interesting features of the aerosol dust properties in the absence of important air pollution sources over the European continent. During the event, moderate aerosol optical depth (AOD) values (0.3–0.4) were observed inside the dust layer by the ground-based lidar measurements (at 532 nm). Vertical profiles of the lidar ratio and the particle linear depolarization ratio (at 355 nm) showed mean layer values of the order of 47 ± 9 sr and 28 ± 5%, respectively, revealing the coarse non-spherical mode of the probed plume. The values reported here are very close to pure dust measurements performed during dedicated campaigns in the African continent. By utilizing Libradtran simulations for two scenarios (one for typical midlatitude atmospheric conditions and one having reduced atmospheric pollutants due to COVID-19 restrictions, both affected by a free tropospheric dust layer), we revealed negligible differences in terms of radiative effect, of the order of +2.6% (SWBOA, cooling behavior) and +1.9% (LWBOA, heating behavior). Moreover, the net heating rate (HR) at the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA) was equal to +0.156 K/d and equal to +2.543 K/d within 1–6 km due to the presence of the dust layer at that height. On the contrary, the reduction in atmospheric pollutants could lead to a negative HR (−0.036 K/d) at the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA) if dust aerosols were absent, while typical atmospheric conditions are estimated to have an almost zero net HR value (+0.006 K/d). The NMMB-BSC forecast model provided the dust mass concentration over Athens, while the air mass advection from the African to the European continent was simulated by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model.

scholarly journals Characterization of proteoglycan and the proteoglycan-hyaluronic acid complex by electric birefringence

1978 ◽  
Vol 173 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Isles ◽  
A R Foweraker ◽  
B R Jennings ◽  
T Hardingham ◽  
H Muir
Keyword(s):  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Particle Orientation ◽  
Dilute Solution ◽  
Relaxation Rates ◽  
Acid Complex ◽  
Electric Birefringence ◽  
Partial Alignment ◽  
Uronic Acid Content ◽  
Birefringence Relaxation

An electric field causes partial alignment of macromolecules in a dilute solution. The accompanying changes in the solution birefringence offer a sensitive and quick means of monitoring the rates of particle orientation and hence the size of the solute molecules. Such measurements are reported for dilute solutions of proteoglycans in the absence and presence of added hyaluronic acid. The proteoglycan molecules are shown to be some 580 nm long. In the presence of hyaluronic acid they form aggregates that appear to be consistent with the model previously proposed in which the proteoglycans attach radially to the extended hyaluronic acid chain. The electric-birefringence relaxation rates indicate aggregates of similar length to that of the extended hyaluronic acid chain, with the proteoglycans spaced on average at 29nm intervals. A proteoglycan sample the cystine residues of which had been reduced and alkylated showed no evidence of aggregation with hyaluronic acid up to the concentrations of the acid corresponding to 1% of the total uronic acid content. The electric-birefringence method is shown to have a large potential in the study of associating polysaccharide solutions.

scholarly journals Electrokinetics of scalable, electric-field-assisted fabrication of vertically aligned carbon-nanotube/polymer composites

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (21) ◽  
pp. 214306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Castellano ◽  
Cevat Akin ◽  
Gabriel Giraldo ◽  
Sangil Kim ◽  
Francesco Fornasiero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Vertically Aligned

scholarly journals EARLINET dust observations vs. BSC-DREAM8b modeled profiles: 12-year-long systematic comparison at Potenza, Italy

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 8781-8793 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mona ◽  
N. Papagiannopoulos ◽  
S. Basart ◽  
J. Baldasano ◽  
I. Binietoglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Raman Lidar ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
Systematic Comparison ◽  
Dust Extinction ◽  
Lidar Measurements ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Lidar Ratio ◽  
532 Nm

Abstract. In this paper, we report the first systematic comparison of 12-year modeled dust extinction profiles vs. Raman lidar measurements. We use the BSC-DREAM8b model, one of the most widely used dust regional models in the Mediterranean, and Potenza EARLINET lidar profiles for Saharan dust cases, the largest one-site database of dust extinction profiles. A total of 310 dust cases were compared for the May 2000–July 2012 period. The model reconstructs the measured layers well: profiles are correlated within 5% of significance for 60% of the cases and the dust layer center of mass as measured by lidar and modeled by BSC-DREAM8b differ on average 0.3 ± 1.0 km. Events with a dust optical depth lower than 0.1 account for 70% of uncorrelated profiles. Although there is good agreement in terms of profile shape and the order of magnitude of extinction values, the model overestimates the occurrence of dust layer top above 10 km. Comparison with extinction profiles measured by the Raman lidar shows that BSC-DREAM8b typically underestimates the dust extinction coefficient, in particular below 3 km. Lowest model–observation differences (below 17%) correspond to a lidar ratio at 532 nm and Ångström exponent at 355/532 nm of 60 ± 13 and 0.1 ± 0.6 sr, respectively. These are in agreement with values typically observed and modeled for pure desert dust. However, the highest differences (higher than 85%) are typically related to greater Ångström values (0.5 ± 0.6), denoting smaller particles. All these aspects indicate that the level of agreement decreases with an increase in mixing/modification processes.

scholarly journals Aerosol's optical and physical characteristics and direct radiative forcing during a shamal dust storm, a case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 3751-3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Saeed ◽  
H. Al-Dashti ◽  
C. Spyrou
Keyword(s):  
Optical Thickness ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Aerosol Optical Thickness ◽  
Radiative Heating ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
Surface Level ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Direct Radiative Forcing

Abstract. Dust aerosols are analyzed for their optical and physical properties during an episode of a dust storm that blew over Kuwait on 26 March 2003 when the military Operation Iraqi Freedom was in full swing. The intensity of the dust storm was such that it left a thick suspension of dust throughout the following day, 27 March. The synoptic sequence leading to the dust storm and the associated wind fields are discussed. Ground-based measurements of aerosol optical thickness reached 3.617 and 4.17 on 26 and 27 March respectively while the Ångstrom coefficient, α870/440, dropped to −0.0234 and −0.0318. Particulate matter concentration of 10 μm diameter or less, PM10, peaked at 4800 μg m−3 during dust storm hours of 26 March. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD) by Deep Blue algorithm and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) aerosol index (AI) exhibited high values. Latitude–longitude maps of AOD and AI were used to deduce source regions of dust transport over Kuwait. The vertical profile of the dust layer was simulated using the SKIRON atmospheric model. Instantaneous net direct radiative forcing is calculated at top of atmosphere (TOA) and surface level. The thick dust layer of 26 March resulted in cooling the TOA by −60 Wm−2 and surface level by −175 Wm−2 for a surface albedo of 0.35. Slightly higher values were obtained for 27 March due to the increase in aerosol optical thickness. Radiative heating/cooling rates in the shortwave and longwave bands were also examined. Shortwave heating rate reached a maximum value of 2 K day−1 between 3 and 5 km, dropped to 1.5 K day−1 at 6 km and diminished at 8 km. Longwave radiation initially heated the lower atmosphere by a maximum value of 0.2 K day−1 at surface level, declined sharply at increasing altitude and diminished at 4 km. Above 4 km longwave radiation started to cool the atmosphere slightly reaching a maximum rate of −0.1 K day−1 at 6 km.

scholarly journals Observations of the spectral dependence of linear particle depolarization ratio of aerosols using NASA Langley airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (23) ◽  
pp. 13453-13473 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Burton ◽  
J. W. Hair ◽  
M. Kahnert ◽  
R. A. Ferrare ◽  
C. A. Hostetler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Spectral Resolution ◽  
Spectral Dependence ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
High Spectral Resolution ◽  
Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
High Spectral Resolution Lidar ◽  
532 Nm

Abstract. Linear particle depolarization ratio is presented for three case studies from the NASA Langley airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar-2 HSRL-2). Particle depolarization ratio from lidar is an indicator of non-spherical particles and is sensitive to the fraction of non-spherical particles and their size. The HSRL-2 instrument measures depolarization at three wavelengths: 355, 532, and 1064 nm. The three measurement cases presented here include two cases of dust-dominated aerosol and one case of smoke aerosol. These cases have partial analogs in earlier HSRL-1 depolarization measurements at 532 and 1064 nm and in literature, but the availability of three wavelengths gives additional insight into different scenarios for non-spherical particles in the atmosphere. A case of transported Saharan dust has a spectral dependence with a peak of 0.30 at 532 nm with smaller particle depolarization ratios of 0.27 and 0.25 at 1064 and 355 nm, respectively. A case of aerosol containing locally generated wind-blown North American dust has a maximum of 0.38 at 1064 nm, decreasing to 0.37 and 0.24 at 532 and 355 nm, respectively. The cause of the maximum at 1064 nm is inferred to be very large particles that have not settled out of the dust layer. The smoke layer has the opposite spectral dependence, with the peak of 0.24 at 355 nm, decreasing to 0.09 and 0.02 at 532 and 1064 nm, respectively. The depolarization in the smoke case may be explained by the presence of coated soot aggregates. We note that in these specific case studies, the linear particle depolarization ratio for smoke and dust-dominated aerosol are more similar at 355 nm than at 532 nm, having possible implications for using the particle depolarization ratio at a single wavelength for aerosol typing.

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