AbsoRbIng Aerosols in the Eastern MeDiterraNEan – ARIADNE
Absorbing aerosols refer to particles that absorb solar light, with carbonaceous aerosols (CAs) and dust being the major contributors. These absorbing aerosols lead to a positive radiative effect (forcing), thus contributing to atmospheric warming in a way similar to greenhouse gases. From a climatic point of view, the Eastern Mediterranean region, which is characterized with significant amounts of desert dust due to Sahara and Middle East dust emissions and CAs from seasonal forest fires, is caught in a vicious circle. Climate change scenarios suggest that the area is projected to dry further promoting aridification and resulting in an increased number of wildfires that in turn elevate the contribution of absorbing aerosols radiative effect creating a positive feedback to global warming, originally induced by greenhouse gases. A recent review study revealed a significantly increasing temperature trend in the Eastern Mediterranean – Middle East (EMME) region, which is higher than the global average, validating that the EMME is a climate change hotspot, where climatic factors should be better understood in order to improve our strategies against a warming climate.
ARIADNE aims to understand how the feedback loop of climate change-induced wildfires affects the Eastern Mediterranean climate. To achieve its aims, the project will exploit already collected samples from two archives (PANACEA-RI and DLI), aiming to create the first comprehensive database of aerosol radiative effects covering the East Mediterranean and to investigate discrepancies in radiative models for the region.
ARIADNE will pave the road for a reducing uncertainty in climatic model predictions, a topic of global interest in a world of almost annual record-breaking temperatures. It uses established experimental techniques deemed TRL3, to create new scientific knowledge, while promoting for collaboration in the region.
ARIADNE is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation
Start date: 01/05/2025
End date: 30/04/2027
Funding: €179,596
