Tracing a Northern African Contribution to European Dust During the Last Glacial Maximum

During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), global surface air temperatures were up to 6 °C lower than pre-industrial levels, and the mineral dust cycle intensified significantly, with global dust loading two to four times higher than during the Holocene. Loess deposits and Greenland ice cores record peak dust concentrations during this period. While Asian sources were traditionally considered the primary contributors to dust in Greenland, recent geochemical evidence indicates a mixture of Asian, North African, and European origins. Europe itself experienced heightened dust activity, predominantly attributed to local sources. Here, we present trace element data and Sr and Pb isotopic signatures from LGM-aged samples across 15 European sites, from a Western France to Ukraine longitudinal transect, revealing a notable contribution of fine dust from remote sources, particularly Northern Africa. These geochemical findings are corroborated by Earth System model simulations, which underscore Northern Africa's substantial role in dust deposition across the Northern Hemisphere during glacial periods.Reference: Rousseau et al. (2025). A remote input of African dust to Last Glacial Europe. Comm. Earth & Environ., 6, 847. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02888-9