| ABSTRACT | The Mediterranean region is affected by numerous and various aerosols which have a strong spatio-temporal variability. These aerosols directly interact with solar and thermal radiation, and indirectly with clouds and atmospheric dynamics, with ensuing impacts on regional climate. The variations in aerosol loads are related with atmospheric conditions, as the latter influence their emission, transport and deposition. The objective of this work is to better understand these relationships between aerosols and atmospheric circulation, in order to improve the representation of aerosol forcing in regional climate models. In the present work we use the CNRM Regional Climate System Model including an interactive aerosol scheme (TACTIC). This scheme enables us to have an explicit representation of the main aerosol types (sulfate, organic matter, black carbon, sea-salt and dust) and their spatio-temporal variability, contrary to climate models using aerosol climatologies. Simulations driven by the ERA-Interim reanalysis have been carried out over the 1979-2016 period: a first one with the aerosols and their coupling with radiation and clouds, and a second one without in order to estimate the effects of aerosols on climate. The evaluation of the simulation with aerosols against satellite and ground-based observations highlights the ability of the model to represent the variability of aerosols. Moreover, the analysis of these simulations, using the NAO index and weather regimes, shows the strong relationship between atmospheric circulation and aerosol loads. |