Study of long-term Trend in Dust Distribution over Persian Gulf: Satellite Imagery Application and Weather Charts interpretation

Landuse change, loss of soil moisture and special dynamic and thermodynamic conditions can caused intense soil erosion and dust storms. Emission of dust on land surface is a function of wind shear and surface properties. According to marginal basin properties of Persian Gulf, this area suffers from high level mineral dust concentration during the year. As first step, annual mean aerosol concentrations were studied using satellite data from SeaWiFS sensor over Persian Gulf during 1997-2010. It was observed that in this area is experienced high level of concentrations in 2005. Then, the inter-annual variability of mineral dust concentration was studied and it has usually shown monthly peak of concentration in June-July, but in 2005 it was occurred in April with strong positive anomaly. Thereafter, in order to determine the weather conditions during April 2005, actual weather charts were interpreted in surface and standard synoptical levels. It is observed that five synoptical scale cyclones, originated from the east of Mediterranean Sea have crossed this region during April 2005. These systems were associated with significant dynamical baroclinicity in low level troposphere and perfect surface wind shear over known dust emission sources over marginal basin of Persian Gulf.

Keywords:

Dust , Persian Gulf , Satellite Imagery , SeaWiFS , Soil erosion