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Increase in African dust flux at the onset of commercial agriculture in the Sahel region

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Mulitza

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • David Heslop

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Daniela Pittauerova

    (Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Helmut W. Fischer

    (Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Inka Meyer

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Jan-Berend Stuut

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
    Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg (Texel), The Netherlands)

  • Matthias Zabel

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Gesine Mollenhauer

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
    Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research)

  • James A. Collins

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Henning Kuhnert

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Michael Schulz

    (MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

Abstract

Farmers raise the dust Dust emissions from the Sahara/Sahel region of Africa are an important factor in the climate system, but the long-term history of African dust generation remains largely unknown; in particular, the contribution of humans to African dust emissions is a matter of controversy. Now, by investigating the chemistry and grain-size distribution of sediments deposited at a marine site located under the West African dust plume, Mulitza et al. have constructed a 3,200-year record of dust deposition off northwest Africa. Their findings reveal that human-induced dust emissions started to contribute significantly to the overall dust budget during the onset of commercial agriculture about 200 years ago, and have continued to increase ever since.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Mulitza & David Heslop & Daniela Pittauerova & Helmut W. Fischer & Inka Meyer & Jan-Berend Stuut & Matthias Zabel & Gesine Mollenhauer & James A. Collins & Henning Kuhnert & Michael Schulz, 2010. "Increase in African dust flux at the onset of commercial agriculture in the Sahel region," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7303), pages 226-228, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7303:d:10.1038_nature09213
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09213
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