Dust storms in the Gulf of Alaska might play a pivotal role in influencing global climate patterns, a study has revealed.
These Alaskan dust particles, especially from the Copper River Valley, have been found to be more efficient at forming ice in the atmosphere compared with those from the Sahara, shedding new light on the complexities of our climate system.
Giant dust storms originating in the Gulf of Alaska can persist for days, releasing tonnes of silt into the atmosphere.
Their scale is such that they have been spotted from space, with images from the Landsat satellite in 2020 capturing dust being carried from the valley to Alaska’s southern coastline.
While the exact implications of these dust particles on global climate are a mystery, research by the University of Leeds and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science suggests a more profound effect than previously believed.
Historically, climate research predominantly concentrated on dust contributions from the Sahara and regions in Africa and Asia.
Prof Benjamin Murray, lead researcher, told The National: "Dust from places like the Sahara has long been known to be important for the planet’s climate. It reflects sunlight back into space so affects climate directly."
These mid to low-latitude storms introduce desert-sourced dust particles into the atmosphere.
However, researchers at Leeds chose a different path, examining the dust from the Copper River Valley on Alaska's south coast, which stretches more than 443km.
Prof Murray said: "One major difference is that Copper River Valley dust has some biological material mixed up in it which makes it much better at nucleating ice.
"The more ice-nucleating particles, the more ice in clouds ... and consequently stratoform clouds out over the oceans tend to reflect less sunlight to space with more absorbed at the surface."
This river is believed to transport about 70 million tonnes of glacial sediment annually.
During warmer months, when water levels are low, winds pick up this silt, dispersing it extensively across North America, sometimes reaching altitudes conducive for ice-cloud formation.
Distinct from Saharan dust, the Copper River Valley particles have a richer biological composition due to the area's abundant vegetation and wildlife.
Dust's role in atmospheric ice formation is pivotal. Without dust, cloud water can remain liquid even in freezing temperatures.
Prof Benjamin Murray, an atmospheric scientist at Leeds, said: “Only a tiny fraction of atmospheric dust particles have the ability to initiate ice formation.
“We are only beginning to understand their origins and global spread. A cloud's ability to reflect sunlight is determined by its ice content, thus it's imperative to understand the diverse sources of these ice-nucleating agents globally.”
Existing climate models largely ignore these high-latitude dust sources, a deficiency highlighted by Prof Murray.
Sarah Barr and Bethany Wyld, doctoral researchers at Leeds, collected samples during these dust storms.
Subsequent laboratory analysis revealed that the particles from Alaska excel in forming ice, compared with their Saharan counterparts.
This difference arises from the Alaskan dust's microscopic biogenic substance fragments, remnants of living organisms.
Meanwhile, Saharan dust comprises mostly potassium feldspar, a significant ice nucleating agent in such regions.
Emphasising the study's significance, Ms Barr said: “While the Sahara's importance in supplying ice-nucleating particles is acknowledged, our research underscores river deltas like the Copper River Valley's equally vital role. Comprehensive understanding of these dust emissions is essential for refining our climate models.”
BLACK%20ADAM
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Squads
India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur
West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph
'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FOLD5
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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
The%20Hunger%20Games%3A%20The%20Ballad%20of%20Songbirds%20%26%20Snakes
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Francis%20Lawrence%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ERachel%20Zegler%2C%20Peter%20Dinklage%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Tom%20Blyth%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 55')
Man of the Match Allan (Everton)
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
