Award Abstract # 0936879
Impact of African Dust on Clouds and Precipitation in a Caribbean Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

NSF Org: AGS
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
Initial Amendment Date: September 18, 2009
Latest Amendment Date: September 18, 2009
Award Number: 0936879
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Sylvia Edgerton
sedgerto@nsf.gov
 (703)292-8522
AGS
 Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: October 1, 2009
End Date: September 30, 2013 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $300,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $300,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2009 = $300,000.00
ARRA Amount: $300,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • Olga Mayol Bracero (Principal Investigator)
    omayol@bnl.gov
  • Kimberly Prather (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Elisabeth Andrews (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
39 PONCE DE LEON AVE
SAN JUAN
PR  US  00931
(787)763-4949
Sponsor Congressional District: 00
Primary Place of Performance: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
39 PONCE DE LEON AVE
SAN JUAN
PR  US  00931
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
00
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): Q3LLLDFHPNL3
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Atmospheric Chemistry
Primary Program Source: 01R00910DB RRA RECOVERY ACT
Program Reference Code(s): 4444, OTHR, 0000, 9150, 6890
Program Element Code(s): 152400
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

The project will combine field and modeling investigations to address how the physico-chemical properties of long range transported African dust (LRTAD) aerosol influence Caribbean cloud properties and precipitation levels in a unique Puerto Rican tropical mountain cloud forest (TMCF). TMCFs occur globally in the Americas, Africa, and Asia and represent a primary source of drinking water. Three major hypotheses will be tested: 1) are cloud properties in the TMCF different during intense LRTAD periods; 2) Does LRTAD have unique chemical and physical properties which influence cloud properties and processes; 3) what is the correlation between precipitation patterns and LRTAD events? The study will be performed in Puerto Rico (PR), at Pico del Este (PE) and Cape San Juan (CSJ) stations. PE is in a TMCF with an elevation of 1051m asl which is at/above the cloud condensation level. This location facilitates the study of clouds without the need for aircraft studies which reduces the overall complexity and costs while allowing longer term observations within a single cloud. CSJ is a near sea level regional station of the Global Atmosphere Watch, upwind from PE, and is the first contact point for the trade wind air masses in PR. This station allows the sampling of the properties of the aerosol that enter the cloud (below-cloud aerosol). Data on the chemical and physical properties of aerosols, clouds, and rainwater samples will be collected via long term measurements and during an intensive field campaign in year 2. Using these results in conjunction with existing data sets of precipitation, cloud cover, temperature and humidity profiles and surface energy budgets, the sensitivity of precipitation distribution to LRTAD events will be investigated, particularly focusing on the length and intensity of the summer dry season in the Caribbean.

Underrepresented student groups will interact with scientists and state-of-the-art instrumentation and be exposed to unique research opportunities. The regional capacity to cope with AD and climate change will be strengthened. Project results will be used in educational materials for students and communities over a range of educational levels. The "Program of Intensive Short Courses in Atmospheric Sciences", where CoPIs/collaborators will offer a short course at the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (UPR-RP), as well as the exchange of students among participating institutions will compensate for the non-existent curricula in atmospheric sciences at the UPR-RP.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Borrmann, S. and O. L. Mayol-Bracero "Teen?s University in Puerto Rico: Atmospheric Sciences for Teenagers" Revista El Coqui , v.octubre , 2013 , p.pp 4-8 http://issuu.com/cqpr1941/docs/revista_el_coqui_volumen_octubre_a_/1?e=7568474/6303728
Prospero, J. M. and O.L. Mayol-Bracero "Understanding the Transport and Impact of African Dust" Bulletin American Meteorological Society , 2013 , p.doi:10.11

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