Design: This year's Sussex Christmas card shows a satellite image of a Saharan sandstorm taken on Christmas Day 2005, showcasing the work of Sussex's new Professor of Climate Change, Martin Todd
This year's Sussex Christmas card is now available to order.
The card showcases the work of Martin Todd, who has recently joined Sussex as a Professor of Climate Change.
It shows a satellite image of a Saharan sandstorm, taken above the Bodélé Depression in northern Chad on Christmas Day 2005.
The red dots denote small brush fires, many associated with seasonal farming activities. The smoke from this large-scale burning mingles with dust from the Bodélé to create a strong impact on weather, climate and human health.
Martin has investigated what makes the Bodélé Depression unique. The vast plumes of dust are created by strong winds, focused by mountains to the north and east on to what is now the exposed bed of an ancient lake. The dust is transported across West Africa, the Atlantic and South America. Remarkably, about half of all dust carried across the Atlantic originates from this single location.
The picture shows the complexity of the climate system, highlighting the challenges for scientists in making predictions of the future. Sussex has recently launched a multidisciplinary climate change initiative to look at the climate system, climate change impacts, and the associated policy challenges.
The cards are available to order now, at 60p each, and will be printed by the end of November in plenty of time for last posting dates. A small number will also be on sale from Sussex House reception during December.
To order cards, email Sara Adamson in Publications on s.adamson@sussex.ac.uk, with your budget code and the number of cards you would like. An electronic version of the card is also available, if preferred.