Simulating the interannual variability of major dust storms on Mars using variable lifting thresholds

► Martian global dust storms are simulated with a dust lifting GCM. ► Interannual variability is greatly improved by the use of a surface dust density feedback. ► Dust storms are generated with a range of initiation dates and peak magnitudes. ► A net northward dust flux is produced by the model on multiannual timescales.