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During the 2020 austral summer, the pristine atmosphere of the southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) basin experienced significant perturbations. This study examines the variability of aerosols and carbon monoxide (CO) over this remote oceanic region and investigates the underlying processes in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UT-LS). Aerosol profiles in January and February 2020 revealed a multi-layer structure in the tropical UT-LS. Numerical models – the FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (FLEXPART) and the Modèle Isentropique de transport Mésoéchelle de l'Ozone Stratosphérique par Advection (MIMOSA) – indicated that the lower-stratospheric aerosol content was influenced by the intense and persistent stratospheric aerosol layer generated during the 2019–2020 extreme Australian bushfire events. A portion of this layer was transported eastward by prevailing easterly winds, leading to increased aerosol extinction profiles over Réunion on 27 and 28 January. Analysis of advected potential vorticity revealed isentropic transport of air masses containing Australian biomass burning aerosols from extratropical latitudes to Réunion at the 400 K isentropic level on 28 January. Interestingly, we found that biomass burning (BB) activity in eastern Africa, though weak during this season, significantly influenced (contributed up to 90 % of) the vertical distribution of CO and aerosols in the upper troposphere over the SWIO basin. Ground-based observations at Réunion confirmed the simultaneous presence of African and Australian aerosol layers. This study provides the first evidence of African BB emissions impacting the CO and aerosol distribution in the upper troposphere over the SWIO basin during the convective season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pristine atmosphere of the southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) basin underwent significant perturbations during the 2020 austral summer. This study documents the complex variability of aerosols and carbon monoxide (CO) over this remote oceanic region and identifies the processes governing it in the upper troposphere – lower stratosphere (UT-LS). Aerosol profiles exhibit a multi-layer structure in the tropical UT-LS in January and February 2020. The numerical models (FLEXPART and MIMOSA) showed that the modulation of the aerosol content in the lower stratosphere is due to the intense and persistent stratospheric aerosol smoke layer generated during the 2019–20 extreme Australian bushfire events. One part of this stratospheric aerosol smoke layer was advected zonally by the prevailing easterly winds and its passage over Reunion was recorded by increased aerosol extinction profiles on 27th and 28th January. The analysis of the advected potential vorticity highlights an isentropic transport of air masses containing Australian biomass burning aerosol from extra-tropical latitudes to Reunion at the 400 K isentropic level, on 28th January. Interestingly, our results show that the biomass burning activity in eastern Africa, weak during this season, contributed to modulate (up to 90 %) the vertical distribution of CO and aerosols in the upper troposphere over the SWIO basin. The simultaneous presence of African and Australian aerosols smoke layers has been recorded by ground-based observations at Reunion. This study highlights for the first time the influence of the African emissions from biomass burning to the CO and aerosols distribution in the upper troposphere over the SWIO basin during the convective season. The results show that besides PyroCb -driven injection of biomass burning products to the stratosphere, an alternative pathway may exist during the regular deep-convection season in the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fires occur seasonally in Southern Africa, from June to November, increasing tropospheric aerosol loading and triggering harmful consequences for the environment and human health. This study aims to examine 13 years of aerosol optical characteristics and types over Southern Africa and Reunion Island. Using AERONET sun photometers and MODIS observations, we found that a high aerosol optical depth and Angström exponent are associated with two predominant types of aerosols (biomass burning/urban industrial and mixed type) throughout the spring season. According to CALIOP observations, the major aerosol types with occurrence frequencies above 10% are polluted continental/smoke, polluted dust, and elevated smoke, whereas dust, clean continental, and dusty marine have occurrence frequencies below 1%. In comparison to other seasons, the vertical profiles of elevated smoke have different shapes in spring, with a seasonal shift in the peak altitude (from 3–4 km), when fire activity is at its maximum. At these altitudes, the northern regions presented occurrence frequencies of 32% on average, while lower values were found for the southern or farthest regions (<10–20% on average). The Lagrangian HYSPLIT model back-trajectories demonstrated eastward transport, with air masses from South America and the Atlantic Ocean that recirculate around the study sites. The aerosols are mainly derived from active biomass burning areas near the study sites and, to a lesser extent, from remote sources such as South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]