Patagonian dust in Antarctica

Recent advances in the knowledge of Antarctica have demonstrated that the atmospheric dust trapped in the West Antarctica glaciers during IS2, 4 and 6 has a Patagonian origin. A climatic scenario is developed in this article in order to explain such a process. Patagonia is unique, as it is the only sizable land mass located in the belt of Westerlies in the Southern Hemisphere. The Westerlies are formed by cyclonic structures, which normally elevate the air masses and aerosols to the upper troposphere. There, the phenomena of mass compensation occur with the Antarctic anticyclone, which (as any anticyclone) sinks air and aerosols to the surface. Large quantities of loose surficial sediments and atmospheric dust are typical of Patagonia and can easily be picked up by the wind. According to this scenario, which is based on the general atmospheric circulation, Australia and Southern Africa are hindered in providing aerosols to Antarctica, because those territories are located in the subtropical high-pressure belt. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.