Comments on the source, transport and deposition scenario of Saharan dust to southern Europe

The recently proposed two-stage scenario of Saharan dust transport to southern Europe, via peridesert loess deposits in N. Africa, is not supported by available evidence on dust trajectories, grain size data and composition, and the scarcity of Saharan peridesert loess deposits. Trajectories of long distance dust plume transport start mostly in the alluvial surroundings of central Saharan and N. African mountains and wadis. Fallout of coarser dust particles along the trajectories is common but these are again picked up when deposited on bare desert surfaces and then deposited in the Mediterranean Sea, leaving only the fines for long distance transport to southern Europe