A recurrent rapid North Atlantic transport pathway facilitates Saharan dust delivery to the Arctic

Abstract. Mineral dust can be transported from lower latitudes to the Arctic across the North Atlantic pathway. It remains unclear whether this rapid Saharan dust transport pathway is isolated or recurrent into the high Arctic. Here, we investigate the rapid  pathway using a March 2022 Arctic dust instrusion as a case study, combining GEOS-Chem simulations, satellite observations and long term HYSPLIT trajectories. GEOS-Chem simulation results indicate that, over the Svalbard, emissions from Africa account for more than 95% of the simulated total aerosol optical depth (AOD) for coarse-mode dust.  During the event, mean total dust AOD increased to 3.8 times its pre-event background level. Coarse dust AOD increased more strongly, reaching 9.0 times its background level.  Satellite observations show enhanced large-mode and nonspherical aerosol signatures near Svalbard.  HYSPLIT analysis reveals a recurring North Atlantic transport pathway between 2005 and 2025. Along this rapid pathway, its relative contribution compared with European continental pathway into the Arctic increases toward higher latitudes, accounting for 25.5% of trajectories reaching 66°N and more than 50% of those reaching 80°N. This pathway also enters the Arctic at lower altitude and with warmer, more humid air than the European continental pathway. Besides, dust poleward transport  is negatively correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation, confined to specific season, February and March. These results identify a recurrent rapid North Atlantic transport pathway linking Saharan dust sources with the Arctic, with potential influence on Arctic mixed-phase clouds and climate.