Lithogenic particle fluxes and grain size distributions in the deep ocean off northwest Africa: implications for seasonal changes of aeolian dust input and downward transport

A study was conducted to analyze lithogenic particle flux and grain size distributions from sediment trap deployments to determine short-term differences in flux and transport of lithogenic matter off northwest Africa. Results indicated a dominant change of dust transport in the trade winds during winter/spring and transport in the Saharan Air Layer at the Cape Verde site. Off Cape Blanc, there was a fast and mostly undisturbed downward transport of particulate matter.