First Circular – Workshop of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) – Dust devils
16 – 20 February 2015
Conveners
Matthew Balme (Open University, UK)
Ralph Lorenz (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, USA)
Lynn Neakrase (New Mexico State University, USA)
Dennis Reiss (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany)
Angelo Pio Rossi (Jacobs University, Germany)
Aymeric Spiga (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France)
John Zarnecki (ISSI Bern).
Local organisation: Jennifer Fankhauser-Zaugg, ISSI, Jennifer.Fankhauser@issibern.ch
Phone: +41 31 631 48 96, Fax: +41 31 631 48 97
The Context of the Workshop
Dust devils are whirlwinds (i.e., vertical vortices) that lift dust from the surface and thus become laden with airborne dust. They occur on Earth and Mars and contribute to dust entrainment into the atmosphere on both planets. Aerosols such as mineral dust play an important role in the atmosphere, influencing the climate by reflection of incoming solar radiation and absorption of outgoing thermal radiation. In addition, they have significant effects on the atmospheric energy budget as they act as cloud condensation and ice nuclei.
On Earth, dust entrainment by dust devils is mainly limited to semi-arid and arid regions but its significance is not well constrained. At the least, they add significantly to reducing air quality in these regions. Estimates indicate that dust devils and convective plumes may contribute about 35% to the global amount of airborne mineral dust.
Mars is a hyperarid desert planet and dust devils are suggested to be an important factor to lift dust in the martian atmosphere, replenishing the background atmospheric dust haze. Dust devils may contribute to as much as half of the global dust suspended in the martian atmosphere compared to local and regional dust storms. In addition, the passage of dust devils across the surface often leaves tracks of decreased albedo. The albedo changes happen when the passing dust devil removes the topmost layer of dust and thus exposes a coarser grained substrate such as coarse sands. This process can significantly lower the surface albedo of larger regions affecting large-scale weather patterns and recent climate on Mars.
Objectives of the Workshop
The impact of dust devils on the climate of Earth and Mars is poorly understood, so the main goal of the proposed workshop is to quantify the contribution of dust entrainment by dust devils on Earth and Mars. Many recent studies in the last years improved our knowledge in specific areas of dust devil processes (i.e., terrestrial field and laboratory measurements, remote sensing and rover measurements on Mars, progress in numerical models), but the wealth of new information was never combined to quantify the global dust contribution by dust devils on Earth and Mars.
The Workshop will review observations and theory of dust devils on Earth and Mars as well as their effects on the atmosphere and climate on both planets.
The Workshop is designed to review in depth what has been achieved in the research on dust devils. The main goal of the proposed ISSI Workshop is to discuss the state of the art of the research and future prospective.
The workshop will cover the following main them:
- Observations and measurements (Earth & Mars)
- Theoretical / Modeling / Laboratory (Earth & Mars)
- Impact on Atmospheres and Climate (Earth & Mars)
Short presentations by those attending will be structured around the above headings. This list could, subject to discussion and assessment at the Workshop, become the set of chapter headings for the ISSI book. All of those attending will be expected to contribute to one or more of the chapters or for the discussions during the talks.
Product
Following the Workshop, its output will be published as a volume in the Space Science Series of ISSI by Springer, in parallel with the publication of the papers in Space Science Reviews. It is expected that a total of about 4 sections and between 10 and 15 review style and quality papers, submitted to the usual refereeing process will be published in the book. Papers will be based on talks presented at the Workshop and will reflect the discussions that will be held among the participants during the Workshop.
Location
The Workshop will be held at the International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland (See Logistics).
Young scientists
Under its special programme for supporting young scientists, ISSI will invite around five early career scientists, within two years of their PhD, to take a full part in the Workshop.
Funding
ISSI will provide the subsistence costs (hotel and a per diem to cover meals) to all participants but not the travel costs. There will be no registration fee for the Workshop.
Schedule
Invitations and First Circular: 10 September 2014
Registration deadline: 1 November 2014
Second Circular and final program: 16 January 2015
Hotel deadline: 23 January 2015
Workshop: 16–20 February 2015