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Coupling global climate drivers to dust emission dynamics at Etosha Pan, Namibia
Natasha S Wallum1, Giles F S Wiggs1, Robert G Bryant2
1School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
The Science of the Total Environment
|July 19, 2025
Summary
Ephemeral lake beds significantly impact atmospheric dust. This study links rainfall, flooding, and wind speed to dust emissions from Etosha Pan, influenced by climate cycles like ENSO and SIOD.
Area of Science:
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Atmospheric Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Ephemeral lake beds are key sources of atmospheric mineral dust aerosols.
- Dust emissions from these features show high spatial and temporal variability.
- Uncertainty in dust emission models impacts predictions of global Earth system processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the influence of regional climate and basin-scale hydrology on mineral dust emissions.
- To investigate the drivers of dust emission variability from Etosha Pan, a major Southern Hemisphere dust source.
- To improve the integration of ephemeral lake systems in dust emission models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized satellite-derived measurements (MSG-SEVIRI, MODIS) of dust aerosols and lake inundation (2000-2022).
- Integrated climate data from meteorological stations and model reanalysis.
- Analyzed associations between rainfall, surface inundation, wind speed, and dust emission frequency/magnitude.
Main Results:
- Significant links found between rainfall, inundation, and dust emission variations.
- Dust production is suppressed by wet periods and delayed during surface drying.
- Wind speed is the primary driver of dust emissions during dry periods.
- Dust emissions are strongly correlated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (SIOD) phases.
Conclusions:
- Regional climate and hydrological factors robustly control dust emissions from ephemeral lakes.
- Established links between dust emissions and global climate drivers (ENSO, SIOD).
- Provides a basis for forecasting future dust trends using climate cycles.
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