Mark A. Harrison
Papers
2
Total Citations
422
H-Index
2
About
Mark A. Harrison is a leading atmospheric scientist whose research centers on the physical and optical properties of mineral dust aerosols, particularly in the context of African dust outbreaks and their climatic impacts. His most influential work stems from the Dust and Biomass-burning Experiment (DABEX), part of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) project. Harrison’s 2008 paper, cited over 222 times, provides critical aircraft-based measurements of dust aerosol optical properties over Sahelian West Africa, revealing how dust interacts with solar radiation. In a companion study (200 citations), he characterized the size distribution, shape, and composition of dust particles collected during the same campaign, offering foundational data for climate models. By combining airborne sampling with detailed microphysical analysis, Harrison has helped constrain the radiative forcing of mineral dust—one of the largest uncertainties in climate science. His work is essential for understanding how desert dust influences weather, air quality, and the Earth’s energy balance, making him a key figure in aerosol-climate research.
Research Focus
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