Arabian and Saharan Dust Optical and Microphysical Properties: Synergy of CARO Limassol PollyXT Lidar, and Sun Photometer observations using GRASP algorithm
Date Issued
September 10, 2025
Abstract
Earth’s atmospheric radiative energy budget is strongly influenced by aerosols in the atmosphere [1].
Desert dust from the Middle East and the Sahara/North Africa regions is considered one of the major types
of atmospheric aerosols globally. The Eastern Mediterranean, particularly Cyprus, is influenced by the
transport of air masses from the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Peninsula. Many studies have shown that
some optical and microphysical characteristics of these two aerosol types differ [2]. A study by Nisantzi et
al. (2015) [2] conducted in Cyprus, found that the Lidar ratio of Saharan dust is 53 ± 6 sr, while that of
Middle Eastern dust was significantly lower, at 41 ± 4 sr at 532 nm. Additionally, the real part of the
refractive index for Middle Eastern dust was higher, measured at 1.55, compared to 1.45 for Saharan dust
in the 500–550 nm wavelengths [2]. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the optical and
the microphysical characteristics of desert dust from both regions by utilizing the synergy between the
Polarization PollyXT Raman Lidar and the Cimel sun/sky photometer, in Limassol city of Cyprus. The
analysis is performed using the Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties (GRASP)
algorithm.
Desert dust from the Middle East and the Sahara/North Africa regions is considered one of the major types
of atmospheric aerosols globally. The Eastern Mediterranean, particularly Cyprus, is influenced by the
transport of air masses from the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Peninsula. Many studies have shown that
some optical and microphysical characteristics of these two aerosol types differ [2]. A study by Nisantzi et
al. (2015) [2] conducted in Cyprus, found that the Lidar ratio of Saharan dust is 53 ± 6 sr, while that of
Middle Eastern dust was significantly lower, at 41 ± 4 sr at 532 nm. Additionally, the real part of the
refractive index for Middle Eastern dust was higher, measured at 1.55, compared to 1.45 for Saharan dust
in the 500–550 nm wavelengths [2]. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the optical and
the microphysical characteristics of desert dust from both regions by utilizing the synergy between the
Polarization PollyXT Raman Lidar and the Cimel sun/sky photometer, in Limassol city of Cyprus. The
analysis is performed using the Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties (GRASP)
algorithm.
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