REMOTE SENSING OF AEOLIAN DUST PRODUCTIONAND DISTRIBUTION

摘要

Airborne dust is of concern due to hazards in the localities affected by erosion,transport and deposition, but it is also of global concern due to uncertainties over itsrole in radiative forcing of climate. In order to model the environmental impact ofdust, we need a better knowledge of sources and transport processes. Satellite remotesensing has been instrumental in providing this knowledge, through long time seriesof observations of atmospheric dust transport. Three remote sensing methodologieshave been used, and are reviewed briefly in this paper. Firstly the use of observationsfrom the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), secondly the use of theInfrared Difference Dust Index (IDDI) from Meterosat infrared data, thirdly the useof MODIS images from the rapid response system. These data have highlighted themajor global sources of dust, mist of which are associated with endoreic drainagebasins in deserts, which held lakes during Quaternary humid climate phases, andidentified the Bodele Depression in Tchad as the dustiest place on Earth.