scholarly journals Remote sensing and modeling analysis of the extreme dust storm hitting Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean in September 2015

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stavros Solomos ◽  
Albert Ansmann ◽  
Rodanthi-Elisavet Mamouri ◽  
Ioannis Binietoglou ◽  
Platon Patlakas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dust Cloud ◽  
Satellite Observation ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Modeling Analysis ◽  
Infrared Imager ◽  
North Iraq

Abstract. The extreme dust storm that affected Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean in September 2015 resulted in record-breaking dust loads over Cyprus with aerosol optical depth exceeding 5.0 at 550 nm. We analyze this event using profiles from the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET), the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), geostationary observations from the Meteosat Second Generation – Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (MSG-SEVIRI) and high resolution simulations with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). The analysis reveals the main mechanisms that resulted in the generation and persistence of the dust cloud over Middle-East and Cyprus. A combination of meteorological and surface processes is found: (a) the development of a thermal low at the area of Syria that results in unstable atmospheric conditions and dust mobilization at this area; (b) the convective activity over North Iraq that triggers the formation of a westward moving haboob that merges with the previously elevated dust layer; and (c) the changes in land use due to war at the areas of North Iraq and Syria that enhances dust erodibility.

scholarly journals Remote sensing and modelling analysis of the extreme dust storm hitting the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean in September 2015

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 4063-4079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stavros Solomos ◽  
Albert Ansmann ◽  
Rodanthi-Elisavet Mamouri ◽  
Ioannis Binietoglou ◽  
Platon Patlakas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dust Cloud ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Satellite Observation ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Northern Iraq

Abstract. The extreme dust storm that affected the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean in September 2015 resulted in record-breaking dust loads over Cyprus with aerosol optical depth exceeding 5.0 at 550 nm. We analyse this event using profiles from the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), geostationary observations from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), and high-resolution simulations from the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). The analysis of modelling and remote sensing data reveals the main mechanisms that resulted in the generation and persistence of the dust cloud over the Middle East and Cyprus. A combination of meteorological and surface processes is found, including (a) the development of a thermal low in the area of Syria that results in unstable atmospheric conditions and dust mobilization in this area, (b) the convective activity over northern Iraq that triggers the formation of westward-moving haboobs that merge with the previously elevated dust layer, and (c) the changes in land use due to war in the areas of northern Iraq and Syria that enhance dust erodibility.

Cyclogenesis and density currents in the Middle East and the associated dust activity in September 2015

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Francis ◽  
Noor AlShamsi ◽  
Juan Cuesta ◽  
Ayse Gokcen Isik ◽  
Cihan Dundar
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Arabian Gulf ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Density Currents ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Blocking High ◽  
Subtropical Jet ◽  
Upper Level

<p>The first 10 days of September 2015 were marked by an intense dust activity over the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. This study examines the atmospheric conditions at the origin of the large dust storms during this period. We particularly investigate the atmospheric dynamics leading to the development of a large dry cyclone over Iraq on 31 August 2015 which in turn generated an intense dust storm that affected most of the countries around the Arabian Gulf and lasted for 5 days. We found that the cyclone developed over Northwest Iraq as a transfer to low levels of a cut-off low which had formed two days earlier at upper levels over Turkey. Large dust loads exceeding 250 tons were emitted and moved southeast in a cyclonic shape toward the Arabian sea. The second large dust storm on 6-8 September 2015 occurred over Syria and affected all the coastal countries on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. It was associated with the occurrence of a series of density currents over northeast Syria emanating from deep convection over the mountainous border between Syria and Turkey. The unusual development of deep convection over this area was associated with a blocking high and interaction with orography. Both the cut-off high and the cut-off low occurred during a period characterized by a meandering polar jet and an enhanced subtropical jet causing unstable weather over mid-latitudes which in turn led to highly polluted atmosphere by natural dust in the affected countries.<br>Keywords: Cut-off low; cut-off high; upper-level trough; density current; cyclone; evaporation cooling; desert areas; dust storms; polar jet; subtropical jet.</p>

scholarly journals New insights into the vertical structure of the September 2015 dust storm employing eight ceilometers and auxiliary measurements over Israel

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 3203-3221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leenes Uzan ◽  
Smadar Egert ◽  
Pinhas Alpert
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Sea Breeze ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Satellite Observation ◽  
Surface Solar Radiation ◽  
Dust Layer ◽  
Very High

Abstract. On 7 September 2015, an unprecedented and unexceptional extreme dust storm struck the eastern Mediterranean (EM) basin. Here, we provide an overview of the previous studies and describe the dust plume evolution over a relatively small area, i.e., Israel. This study presents vertical profiles provided by an array of eight ceilometers covering the Israeli shore, inland and mountain regions. We employ multiple tools including spectral radiometers (Aerosol Robotic Network – AERONET), ground particulate matter concentrations, satellite images, global/diffuse/direct solar radiation measurements and radiosonde profiles. The main findings reveal that the dust plume penetrated Israel on 7 September from the northeast in a downward motion to southwest. On 8 September, the lower level of the dust plume reached 200 m above ground level, generating aerosol optical depth (AOD) above 3 and extreme ground particulate matter concentrations up to ∼ 10 000 µm m−3. A most interesting feature on 8 September was the very high variability in the surface solar radiation in the range of 200–600 W m−2 (22 sites) over just a distance of several hundred kilometers in spite of the thick dust layer above. Furthermore, 8 September shows the lowest radiation levels for this event. On the following day, the surface solar radiation increased, thus enabling a late (between 11:00 and 12:00 UTC) sea breeze development mainly in the coastal zone associated with a creation of a narrow dust layer detached from the ground. On 10 September, the AOD values started to drop down to ∼ 1.5, and the surface concentrations of particulate matter decreased as well as the ceilometers' aerosol indications (signal counts) although Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) revealed an upper dust layer remained.

scholarly journals Cyclogenesis and Density Currents in the Middle East and the Associated Dust Activity in September 2015

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Francis ◽  
Noor Alshamsi ◽  
Juan Cuesta ◽  
Ayse Gokcen Isik ◽  
Cihan Dundar
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Arabian Gulf ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Density Currents ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Blocking High ◽  
Polluted Atmosphere ◽  
Low Levels

The first 10 days of September 2015 were marked by intense dust activity over the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. This study examines the atmospheric conditions at the origin of the large dust storms during this period. We particularly investigate the atmospheric dynamics leading to the development of a large dry cyclone over Iraq on 31 August 2015 which in turn generated an intense dust storm that affected most of the countries around the Arabian Gulf and lasted for 5 days. We found that the cyclone developed over Northwest Iraq as a transfer to low levels of a cut-off low which had formed two days earlier at upper levels over Turkey. Large dust loads exceeding 250 tons were emitted and moved southeast in a cyclonic shape toward the Arabian sea. The second large dust storm on 6-8 September 2015 occurred over Syria and affected all the coastal countries on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. It was associated with the occurrence of a series of density currents over northeast Syria emanating from deep convection over the mountainous border between Syria and Turkey. The unusual development of deep convection over this area was associated with a blocking high and interaction with orography. Both the cut-off high and the cut-off low occurred during a period characterized by a meandering polar jet and an enhanced subtropical jet causing unstable weather over mid-latitudes which in turn led to highly polluted atmosphere by natural dust in the affected countries.

scholarly journals Extreme dust storm over the eastern Mediterranean in September 2015: satellite, lidar, and surface observations in the Cyprus region

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 13711-13724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodanthi-Elisavet Mamouri ◽  
Albert Ansmann ◽  
Argyro Nisantzi ◽  
Stavros Solomos ◽  
George Kallos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Extinction Coefficients ◽  
Dust Mass ◽  
Lidar Observations ◽  
Mass Concentrations

Abstract. A record-breaking dust storm originating from desert regions in northern Syria and Iraq occurred over the eastern Mediterranean in September 2015. In this contribution of a series of two articles (part 1, observations; part 2, atmospheric modeling), we provide a comprehensive overview of the aerosol conditions during this extreme dust outbreak in the Cyprus region. These observations are based on satellite observations (MODIS, moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer) of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and Ångström exponent, surface particle mass (PM10) concentrations measured at four sites in Cyprus, visibility observations at three airports in southern Cyprus and corresponding conversion products (particle extinction coefficient, dust mass concentrations), EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network) lidar observations of dust vertical layering over Limassol, particle optical properties (backscatter, extinction, lidar ratio, linear depolarization ratio), and derived profiles of dust mass concentrations. Maximum 550 nm AOT exceeded values of 5.0, according to MODIS, and the mass loads were correspondingly >  10 g m−2 over Larnaca and Limassol during the passage of an extremely dense dust front on 8 September 2015. Hourly mean PM10 values were close to 8000 µg m−3 and the observed meteorological optical range (visibility) was reduced to 300–750 m at Larnaca and Limassol. The visibility observations suggest peak values of the near-surface total suspended particle (TSP) extinction coefficients of 6000 Mm−1 and thus TSP mass concentrations of 10 000 µg m−3. The Raman polarization lidar observations mainly indicated a double layer structure of the dust plumes (reaching to about 4 km height), pointing to at least two different dust source regions. Dust particle extinction coefficients (532 nm) already exceeded 1000 Mm−1 and the mass concentrations reached 2000 µg m−3 in the elevated dust layers on 7 September, more than 12 h before the peak dust front on 8 September reached the Limassol lidar station around local noon. Typical Middle Eastern dust lidar ratios around 40 sr were observed in the dense dust plumes. The particle depolarization ratio decreased from around 0.3 in the lofted dense dust layers to 0.2 at the end of the dust period (11 September), indicating an increasing impact of anthropogenic haze.

Historicising the Left in the Middle East: On Agency, Archives and Anti-capitalism

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-240
Author(s):  
Sara Salem
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Global Capitalism ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Nationalist Movements ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis article is a review of Ilham Khuri-Makdisi’s bookThe Eastern Mediterranean and the Making of Global Capitalism, 1860–1914. I argue that this book is a valuable contribution to historiographies of the Left in the Middle East, a field that remains under-represented given the importance of labour to the nationalist movements as well as broader worker-activism in the region throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. I review the main debates of the book, and raise critical questions about aspects that could have been probed further, among them the questions of imperialism and race in contexts such as Egypt and Lebanon, and the relationship(s) between workers and the radical intellectuals discussed throughout the book.

scholarly journals The beginning of spreading of technology of manufacturing of Geometric Microlites with dorsal flat retouch

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 136-143
Author(s):  
Valery Aleksandrovich Manko
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
New Technology

The author analyzes the emergence and spread of geometric microliths with flat pressing dorsal retouch in the Near and Middle East, in the basin of the Eastern Mediterranean and in Eastern Europe. We consider the typology of these products and their role in the Neolithic complexes of Eastern Europe. Author makes analysis of the typology and technology of geometrics and detected primary and secondary centers of dissemination of new technology.

scholarly journals Review Article: Atmospheric conditions inducing extreme precipitation over the Eastern and Western Mediterranean

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 3687-3732 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Dayan ◽  
K. M. Nissen ◽  
U. Ulbrich
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Precipitation ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Extreme Precipitation Events ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Abstract. This review discusses published studies of heavy rainfall events over the Mediterranean Basin, combining them in a more general picture of the dynamic and thermodynamic factors and processes producing heavy rain storms. It distinguishes the Western and Eastern Mediterranean in order to point at specific regional peculiarities. The crucial moisture for developing intensive convection over these regions can be originated not only from the adjacent Mediterranean Sea but also from distant upwind sources. Transport from remote sources is usually in the mid-tropospheric layers and associated with specific features and patterns of the larger scale circulations. The synoptic systems (tropical and extra-tropical) accounting for most of the major extreme precipitation events and the coupling of circulation and extreme rainfall patterns are presented. Heavy rainfall over the Mediterranean Basin is caused at times in concert by several atmospheric processes working at different atmospheric scales, such as local convection, upper-level synoptic-scale troughs, and meso-scale convective systems. Under tropical air mass intrusions, convection generated by static instability seems to play a more important role than synoptic-scale vertical motions. Locally, the occurrence of torrential rains and their intensity is dependent on factors such as temperature profiles and implied instability, atmospheric moisture, and lower-level convergence.

Rethinking of Turkey’s Geopolitics together with Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 705 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-66
Author(s):  
Arıboğan Deniz Ülke ◽  
Ibrahim Arslan
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
International System ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Past ◽  
Humanitarian Interventions ◽  
The Us ◽  
Transportation Accessibility ◽  
The Eu

In the studies carried out within the scope of geopolitical discipline, the expression "geography is destiny" is frequently used and it is claimed that geography has unchangeable, irreversible qualities and the policies implemented are shaped through this assumption. This assumption ignores the humanitarian interventions over the geography and makes it difficult to understand the results produced by these interventions at both regional and global level. Similarly, the dynamic nature of international relations reveals new actors in the international system in times of bounce and collapse, and the borders that expand or narrow with each transformation can differentiate the geopolitical view with new sovereign countries. In the historical process, transportation accessibility, trade, search for raw materials, security and alliance relations have caused the same geography to be interpreted differently in different periods. This situation also applies to the geography of Turkey had been the homeland of empires. The developments in the Middle East over the past two decades has created a sensitivity in the relations between Turkey and the West, especially the United States. Competing interests with the EU and the US in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, has necessitated a reassessment of Turkey's geography.

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