Mineral dust aerosols play an important role in our climate system and biogeochemical cycles. They directly interact with both shortwave solar ( SW ) and longwave thermal infrared ( LW ) radiation.…

The University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) was awarded a $365,738 research grant by a civilian federal agency on October 25, 2019, with an ultimate completion date of October 24, 2024. This grant supports research on mineral dust aerosols and their role in the climate system and biogeochemical cycles, with a specific focus on understanding the thermal infrared optical depth and radiative effects of dust aerosols. The research leverages satellite observations from instruments including the Infrared Imaging Radiometer (IIR) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) to analyze how mineral dust directly interacts with both shortwave solar and longwave thermal infrared radiation. The work will be conducted at UMBC's Baltimore, Maryland campus and carries no small business set-aside designation.

UMBC, a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland, brings substantial research capabilities to this effort as a public research university with established expertise in Earth science, optical measurements, and federal research partnerships. The grant represents the type of scientific research initiative for which UMBC has demonstrated consistent success with federal agencies, particularly NASA and the National Science Foundation, advancing national scientific objectives in climate and environmental observation. As a child entity within the University System of Maryland structure, UMBC leverages both its institutional capabilities and the broader research infrastructure of the state system to execute this climate science research initiative.

Mineral dust aerosols play an important role in our climate system and biogeochemical cycles. They directly interact with both shortwave solar ( SW ) and longwave thermal infrared ( LW ) radiation. The resulting direct radiative effects.......