scholarly journals THE USE OF MODIS DATA TO EXTRACT A DUST STORM PRODUCT

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faten G Abed ◽  
Abed Alkareem Abed Ali ◽  
Eshtar H Nasser
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Dust Cloud ◽  
Unsupervised Classification ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Composite Image ◽  
The North ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Shamal Wind ◽  
Thermal Band

Iraq in the summer is affected by low pressure centered in the area of Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, and the high pressure region in the plateau of Anatolia. This climate system causes that the Shamal wind blows from the plateau of Anatolia in the north and northwest with relatively cold temperature. From mid-June to mid-September, the wind is accompanied with intensive heating of the earth surface causing dust storms rising up to thousand meters in the atmosphere above Iraq region. In recent years, the frequency of dust storm events was increased in Iraq and its surrounding regions due to the long drought seasons. Unsupervised classification method was used to determine the intensity of the dust storm and to identify the area of dust cloud. In this study, we were able to map dust storm over Iraq region using MODIS Terra and Aqua satellite data within thermal bands (band 31 and 32), and visible band VIS (band 1). Other thermal band (band 21) was used to produce RGB composite image specifying the dust storm. A spectral subtraction between two bands was also used to produce another RGB composite image to obtain better detection for the dust storm over Iraq region.

scholarly journals On the role of dust storms in triggering atmospheric gravity waves observed in the middle atmosphere

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1647-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Das ◽  
A. Taori ◽  
A. Jayaraman
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Atmospheric Perturbations ◽  
Atmospheric Gravity

Abstract. Lower atmospheric perturbations often produce measurable effects in the middle and upper atmosphere. The present study demonstrates the response of the middle atmospheric thermal structure to the significant enhancement of the lower atmospheric heating effect caused by dust storms observed over the Thar Desert, India. Our study from multi-satellite observations of two dust storm events that occurred on 3 and 8 May 2007 suggests that dust storm events produce substantial changes in the lower atmospheric temperatures as hot spots which can become sources for gravity waves observed in the middle atmosphere.

scholarly journals Characteristics of dust storm events over the western United States

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 14195-14220 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lei ◽  
J. X. L. Wang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Cold Fronts ◽  
Deep Blue ◽  
Modis Aod

Abstract. In order to better understand the characteristics of dust storm processes over the western United States, available dust storm events reported by media or recorded by NASA earth observatory are classified into four types based on the prevailing weather systems. Then these four types of dust storm events related to cold fronts, downbursts, tropical disturbances, and cyclogenesis and their selected typical representative events are examined to explore their identifiable characteristics based on in-situ and remote sensing measurements. We find that the key feature of cold front-induced dust storms is their rapid process with strong dust emissions. Events caused by rapid downbursts have the highest rates of emissions. Dust storms due to tropical disturbances show stronger air concentrations of dust and last longer than those caused by cold fronts and downbursts. Finally, dust storms caused by cyclogenesis last the longest. The analysis of particulate matter records also shows that the relative ratio of PM10 (size less than 10 μm) values on dust storm-days to non-dust storm-days is a better indicator of event identification compared to previous established indicators. Moreover, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from both in-situ and satellite datasets allow us to capture dust storm processes. We show that MODIS AOD retrieved from the deep blue data better identify dust storm-affected areas and the spatial extension of event intensity. Our analyses also show that the variability in mass concentrations during dust storm processes captured only by in-situ observations is consistent with the variability in AOD from stationary or satellite observations. The study finally indicates that the combination of in-situ and satellite observations is a better method to fill gaps in dust storm recordings.

scholarly journals Tasman Sea biological response to dust storm events during the austral spring of 2009

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Gabric ◽  
R. Cropp ◽  
G. McTainsh ◽  
H. Butler ◽  
B. M. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Iron Bioavailability ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Tasman Sea

During the austral spring of 2009 several significant dust storms occurred in south-east Australia including the so-called ‘Red Dawn’ event in late September. Estimates of 2.5 Mt total suspended particulate sediment lost off the Australian coast in the 3000km long dust plume make it the largest off-continent loss of soil ever reported. Much of this material was transported over the coastline of New South Wales and into the adjacent Tasman Sea. Long-term model simulations of dust deposition over the south-west Tasman Sea suggest the amount deposited during the spring of 2009 was approximately three times the long-term monthly average. Previous satellite-based analyses of the biological response of Tasman Sea waters to dust-derived nutrients are equivocal or have observed no response. Satellite-derived surface chlorophyll concentrations in the southern Tasman during the spring of 2009 are well above the climatological mean, with positive anomalies as high as 0.5mgm–3. Dust transport simulations indicate strong deposition to the ocean surface, which during both the ‘Red Dawn’ event and mid-October 2009 dust storm events was enhanced by heavy precipitation. Cloud processing of the dust aerosol may have enhanced iron bioavailability for phytoplankton uptake.

scholarly journals Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Dust Storm Activity in Chryse Planitia Using MGS-MOC Observations from Mars Years 24–28

Universe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Zongyu Yue ◽  
Shaojie Qu ◽  
Peiwen Yao ◽  
Xiaohui Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Storm Activity ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
The North ◽  
Outflow Channels ◽  
Average Probability ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Dust storms, observed in all seasons, are among the most momentous of Mars’ atmospheric activities. The Entry–Descent–Landing (EDL) activity of a Martian landing mission is influenced by local atmospheric conditions, especially the probability of dust storm activity. Chryse Planitia, featuring many of the largest and most prominent outflow channels and possible mud volcanoes, is an important target site for current and future Mars landing missions. It is of great significance to understand that a Mars landing probe may encounter a dust storm situation during EDL season in the Chryse Planitia. In this study, based on four Martian years, Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) Mars Daily Global Maps (MDGMs), 1172 dust storms were identified within Chryse’s 1600 km-radius ring. Secondly, the daily mean dust storm probability was calculated, binned by 1° of solar longitude in the Chryse landing area. The two active periods of dust storm activity are Ls = 177–239° and Ls = 288–4°, with an average daily mean dust storm probability of 9.5% and 4.1%. Dust storm activity frequency is closely interrelated with the seasonal ebb and flow of the north polar ice cap; consequently, most dust storms occur in either the cap’s growth or recession phase. We divided the Chryse landing area into square grids of 0.5° and computed the average probability of dust storm occurrence in each grid, which ranged from 0.19% to 2.42%, with an average of 1.22%. The dust storm activity probability in space was also inhomogeneous—low in the west and south but high in the east and north—which was mainly affected by the origin and the path of dust storm sequences. Based on empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of storms in the Chryse area, 40.5% are cap-edge storms in the northern hemisphere. Finally, we concluded that the preferred time of a Mars landing mission is Ls = 18–65° in the Chryse Planitia, and three preferred landing areas were selected with low dust storm probability.

scholarly journals Synoptic Causes and Socio-Economic Consequences of a Severe Dust Storm in the Middle East

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1435
Author(s):  
Nick Middleton ◽  
Saviz Sehat Kashani ◽  
Sara Attarchi ◽  
Mehdi Rahnama ◽  
Sahar Tajbakhsh Mosalman
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Media Reports

Dust storms represent one of the most severe, if underrated, natural hazards in drylands. This study uses ground observational data from meteorological stations and airports (SYNOP and METARs), satellite observations (MODIS level-3 gridded atmosphere daily products and CALIPSO) and reanalysis data (ERA5) to analyze the synoptic meteorology of a severe Middle Eastern dust storm in April 2015. Details of related socio-economic impacts, gathered largely from news media reports, are also documented. This dust storm affected at least 14 countries in an area of 10 million km2. The considerable impacts were felt across eight countries in health, transport, education, construction, leisure and energy production. Hospitals in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE experienced a surge in cases of respiratory complaints and ophthalmic emergencies, as well as vehicular trauma due to an increase in motor vehicle accidents. Airports in seven countries had to delay, divert and cancel flights during the dust storm. This paper is the first attempt to catalogue such dust storm impacts on multiple socio-economic sectors in multiple countries in any part of the world. This type of transboundary study of individual dust storm events is necessary to improve our understanding of their multiple impacts and so inform policymakers working on this emerging disaster risk management issue.

scholarly journals Dust Events and Indoor Air Quality in Residential Homes in Kuwait

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yufei Yuan ◽  
Barrak Alahmad ◽  
Choong-Min Kang ◽  
Fhaid Al-Marri ◽  
Venkateswarlu Kommula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Indoor Exposure ◽  
Infiltration Rates ◽  
Particle Penetration ◽  
Dust Events ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Kuwait is a developed Middle Eastern country that is impacted by frequent dust storms from regional and/or remote deserts. The effectiveness of keeping homes tightly closed during these events to reduce dust exposures was assessed using indoor and outdoor particle samples at 10 residences within the metropolitan Kuwait City area. Specifically, this study compared indoor and outdoor levels of black carbon and 19 trace elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, and Zr) during dust and non-dust events and found that particle penetration efficiencies were lower during dust storm events (less than 20–30%) than during non-dust storm events (40–60%). Coarse particles had lower penetration efficiency compared to fine particles, which is due to differences in infiltration rates and settling velocities between these two size fractions. Our findings suggest that increasing home insulation could be an effective strategy to reduce indoor exposure to crustal particles from dust storm events in residential houses of Kuwait City.

scholarly journals Estimation of wind soil erosion in a semiarid region of Mexico

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
María de Jesús Guevara-Macías ◽  
Noel Carbajal ◽  
Luis Pineda-Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Erosion Effect ◽  
The Impact

Land degradation is a global problem. One of the main factors of this degradation is intense winds in the world’s arid and semi-arid regions. The wind acts on soils without vegetation cover in increasingly large regions. The impact of dust storms is considerable, from massive soil deterioration to health problems. In the arid regions of northern and central Mexico, the problem of changing land use from grasslands and forests to rainfed agriculture has increased notably in recent decades. Recurring dust storms due to winds associated with the passage of cold fronts have become a severe environmental problem. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF-Chem) was applied to analyze dust storms that occur mainly during the winter. An analysis was performed for wind speed data in the period from October 2005 to April 2018. It revealed that about 20 events per year exceeded a threshold erosion speed of 9 m/s. Fifteen events with the potential to generate dust storms were selected. The total amount of dust emitted was added together, and an average dust storm was calculated. Since the massive land-use change began approximately 50 years ago, a total erosion effect was estimated for this period. The characterization of eight soil samples revealed the texture of fine silty sands with low clay content and low organic content due to the mechanical processes of removing the finest fraction. Comparison between observed and modeled dust storm events showed good agreement.

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Incidence of Dust Storms in Saudi Arabia Revealed from In Situ Observations

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Albugami ◽  
Steven Palmer ◽  
Jonathan Cinnamon ◽  
Jeroen Meersmans
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
The West ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Over Time

Monthly meteorological data from 27 observation stations provided by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) of Saudi Arabia were used to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric dust in Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2016. These data were used to analyze the effects of environmental forcing on the occurrence of dust storms across Saudi Arabia by considering the relationships between dust storm frequency and temperature, precipitation, and wind variables. We reveal a clear seasonality in the reported incidence of dust storms, with the highest frequency of events during the spring. Our results show significant positive relationships (p < 0.005) between dust storm occurrence and wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation. However, we did not detect a significant relationship with temperature. Our results reveal important spatial patterns, as well as seasonal and inter-annual variations, in the occurrence of dust storms in Saudi Arabia. For instance, the eastern part of the study area experienced an increase in dust storm events over time, especially in the region near Al-Ahsa. Similarly, an increasing trend in dust storms was also observed in the west of the study area near Jeddah. However, the occurrence of dust storm events is decreasing over time in the north, in areas such as Hail and Qaisumah. Overall, the eastern part of Saudi Arabia experiences the highest number of dust storms per year (i.e., 10 to 60 events), followed by the northern region, with the south and the west having fewer dust storm events (i.e., five to 15 events per year). In addition, our results showed that the wind speeds during a dust storm are 15–20 m/s and above, while, on a non-dust day, the wind speeds are approximately 10–15 m/s or lower. Findings of this study provide insight into the relationship between environmental conditions and dust storm occurrence across Saudi Arabia, and a basis for future research into the drivers behind these observed spatio-temporal trends.

scholarly journals Investigating the culturable atmospheric fungal and bacterial microbiome in West Texas: Implication of dust storms and origins of the air parcels

FEMS Microbes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moamen M Elmassry ◽  
Nandini Ray ◽  
Sara Sorge ◽  
Jennifer Webster ◽  
Kyle Merry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Airborne Fungi ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
West Texas ◽  
Bacterial Microbiome ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Individuals often experience ailments such as allergies, asthma, and respiratory tract infections throughout the year. Weather reports often include estimations of common allergens that can affect these individuals. To describe the local ‘atmospheric microbiome’ in Lubbock, TX, we examined the culturable fungal and bacterial microbiome present in the air on calm and dust storm days using ITS-1 and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, respectively. While some types of airborne fungi were frequently present throughout the year, distinct differences were also observed between calm and dust storm days. We also observed the influence of the origin of air parcels and wind elevation of the air trajectory. The most abundant genera of fungi identified during the study period were Cryptococcus, Aureobasidium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Filobasidium. This observation was not surprising considering the agricultural intensive environment of West Texas. Interestingly, Cladosporium, a common allergenic mold, was increased during days with dust storm events. The predominant bacterial genera observed were Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Massilia, and Exiguobacterium. The relative abundance of the psychrophiles, Psychrobacter and Exiguobacterium was surprising, given the semi-aridity of West Texas. Coupling our observations with back trajectories of the wind (HYSPLIT models) demonstrated that dust storms, regional anthropogenic activity, and origin of air parcels are important influences on the diversity and temporal presence of the atmospheric microbiome.

scholarly journals Synoptic Situation of 28-31 October 2017 Severe Dust Storm over Iraq

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Husam T. Majeed ◽  
Hawraa Majid Qasim
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Synoptic Situation ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
The North ◽  
Northern Border ◽  
Severe Dust Storm

The phenomenon of dust storms occurs in areas that are characterized by drought, and lack of rainfalls. There are many such areas around the world, including the Middle East in general and large parts of Iraq in particular. In the last week of October 2017, a severe dust storm occurred over Iraq and lasted for four days, the aim of this work was to investigate the synoptic situation of this severe storm using remote sensing data. Data include daily true-color images, Aerosols Index (AI), surface weather maps, and 850 Mb weather maps. These data were analyzed for the four days of the storm (28-31 Oct 2017). The results showed that the storm was triggered on the 28th of October over the northwestern part of Iraq. The weather maps revealed that the cause, development, and transport of this storm were caused by a low-pressure system. This system was developed just over the source area of dust on the first day of the storm, and two ridges in which one has existed over the north of Iran and the second advanced from Egypt during the second day of the storm. The pattern of the trough and two ridges on the second and third day caused the storm to halt over central and southwestern areas of Iraq and the northern border of Saudi Arabia with Iraq. On the fourth day, the storm was moved by the northwesterly wind towards the south of Iraq and Kuwait.

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