Desert Dust Episodes Over the Region of Balkan Peninsula

The radiation budget is affected differently from different types of aerosols. Here, we identify and classify the episodes of the strong presence of mineral dust over the region of the Balkan Peninsula. The analyses are based on the data taken mainly from models. However, for validation purposes, we have used also other additional tools, like ground-based and satellite-based observations for the determination of optical aerosol properties of the dust plumes. We have kept systematic observation of climatic parameters of these dust events, and deep analyses of the principal dust contributors over the area under investigation. The maximum of mean aerosol optical depth over the region and the percentage area covered by dust plumes, are achieved usually during spring and early summer. Mean aerosol optical depth over the area covered by the dust plumes is 0.15 and the mean percentage area covered by dust plumes was 21.3%. Main dust sources which contribute to aerosol load over Balkan Peninsula are the Sahara and Arabian deserts.