Investigating the Occurrence of Dust Storms and its Zoning Using GIS During ۲۰۱۸-۲۰۲۱: A Case Study in Ahvaz, Iran

Background: A dust storm is a critical environmental issue and natural hazard in arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Particulate matters including PM۱۰ and PM۲.۵ are of the primary air pollutants, which can adversely affect human health. This research aimed to determine the fine dust concentration spatiotemporally and estimate the suspended particulate matter (PM۱۰ and PM۲.۵) during ۲۰۱۸-۲۰۲۱ in Ahvaz.Methods: An analytical- descriptive method and the data from synoptic weather stations in the studied area were used in this study. The zoning of dust was done using the kriging method by ArcGIS software.Results: The results indicated that the year ۲۰۲۱ experienced the highest frequency of dusty days, with ۵۴ occurrences, while the year ۲۰۱۹ exhibited the lowest frequency, with only ۲۸ dusty days. Notably, Ahvaz city recorded the highest dust concentration in ۲۰۲۰, reaching an average of ۴۶۶۷ mg/m۳. Based on the findings of PM concentration over the four-year period, it is evident that ۲۰۲۱ recorded the highest PM۱۰ concentration (۳۲۶.۱۴ mg/m۳), while ۲۰۲۰ exhibited the highest PM۲.۵ concentration (۱۴۸.۲۶ mg/m۳).Conclusion: The results revealed that there was an increase in dust concentration in the east and north. This is probably attributed to the proximity to dust centers.

Keywords:

Dust Storm , Zoning , Indoor Sources , Concentration of PM