Vertical Variability in morphology, chemistry and optical properties of the transported Saharan air layer measured from Cape Verde and the Caribbean

The structural properties of the Saharan air layer (SAL) including chemical, morphological and optical properties were measured during the Saharan Aerosol Longrange TRansport and Aerosol Cloud interaction Experiment (SALTRACE- June/July 2013). Flight measurements were done from Cape Verde and the Caribbean. Changes happening with the chemical composition, mixing, shape and absorption of aerosol single particles (particle diameter range 0.5–3.0 µm) inside SAL during its transport are detailed. Dust-dominated SAL (relative number abundance >90%) and generally low mixing (<1% with sea-salt and sulphates) are observed at both locations. The change in shape (determined as aspect ratio (AR)) after transatlantic transport was statistically not significant. The iron oxide fraction, important for light absorption, contributed 6.0–6.8% to SAL dust. A lower amount of Fe oxides was observed in transported SAL, especially for the size range 0.5–1.5 µm. This reduction in Fe oxide content resulted in a 4% decrease (0.0046–0.0044) in dust imaginary refractive index and a 1% decrease in single scattering albedo (0.802–0.809) at 520 nm. Our work suggests including the size distribution of iron oxides and their particular behaviour in future experiment/model studies.