Dust storms in the Gulf of Alaska might play a pivotal role in influencing global climate patterns, a study has revealed.
These Alaskan dust particles, especially from the Copper River Valley, have been found to be more efficient at forming ice in the atmosphere compared with those from the Sahara, shedding new light on the complexities of our climate system.
Giant dust storms originating in the Gulf of Alaska can persist for days, releasing tonnes of silt into the atmosphere.
Their scale is such that they have been spotted from space, with images from the Landsat satellite in 2020 capturing dust being carried from the valley to Alaska’s southern coastline.
While the exact implications of these dust particles on global climate are a mystery, research by the University of Leeds and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science suggests a more profound effect than previously believed.
Historically, climate research predominantly concentrated on dust contributions from the Sahara and regions in Africa and Asia.
Prof Benjamin Murray, lead researcher, told The National: "Dust from places like the Sahara has long been known to be important for the planet’s climate. It reflects sunlight back into space so affects climate directly."
These mid to low-latitude storms introduce desert-sourced dust particles into the atmosphere.
However, researchers at Leeds chose a different path, examining the dust from the Copper River Valley on Alaska's south coast, which stretches more than 443km.
Prof Murray said: "One major difference is that Copper River Valley dust has some biological material mixed up in it which makes it much better at nucleating ice.
"The more ice-nucleating particles, the more ice in clouds ... and consequently stratoform clouds out over the oceans tend to reflect less sunlight to space with more absorbed at the surface."
This river is believed to transport about 70 million tonnes of glacial sediment annually.
During warmer months, when water levels are low, winds pick up this silt, dispersing it extensively across North America, sometimes reaching altitudes conducive for ice-cloud formation.
Distinct from Saharan dust, the Copper River Valley particles have a richer biological composition due to the area's abundant vegetation and wildlife.
Dust's role in atmospheric ice formation is pivotal. Without dust, cloud water can remain liquid even in freezing temperatures.
Prof Benjamin Murray, an atmospheric scientist at Leeds, said: “Only a tiny fraction of atmospheric dust particles have the ability to initiate ice formation.
“We are only beginning to understand their origins and global spread. A cloud's ability to reflect sunlight is determined by its ice content, thus it's imperative to understand the diverse sources of these ice-nucleating agents globally.”
Existing climate models largely ignore these high-latitude dust sources, a deficiency highlighted by Prof Murray.
Sarah Barr and Bethany Wyld, doctoral researchers at Leeds, collected samples during these dust storms.
Subsequent laboratory analysis revealed that the particles from Alaska excel in forming ice, compared with their Saharan counterparts.
This difference arises from the Alaskan dust's microscopic biogenic substance fragments, remnants of living organisms.
Meanwhile, Saharan dust comprises mostly potassium feldspar, a significant ice nucleating agent in such regions.
Emphasising the study's significance, Ms Barr said: “While the Sahara's importance in supplying ice-nucleating particles is acknowledged, our research underscores river deltas like the Copper River Valley's equally vital role. Comprehensive understanding of these dust emissions is essential for refining our climate models.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
India Test squad
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Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
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