Author/Authors :
Darvishi Boloorani، Ali نويسنده 1Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 2Geoinformatics Research Institute (GRI), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Full list of author information is available at the end of the article , , Nabavi، Seyed O نويسنده Geoinformatics Research Institute (GRI), University of Tehran and Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria , , Bahrami، Hosain A نويسنده Department of Soil Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran , , Mirzapour، Fardin نويسنده Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Sadra Institute of Higher Education, Isfahan, Iran , , Kavosi، Musa نويسنده Geoinformatics Research Institute (GRI), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , , Abasi، Esmail نويسنده Geoinformatics Research Institute (GRI), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , , Azizi، Rasoul نويسنده Geoinformatics Research Institute (GRI), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: One of the natural phenomena which have had considerable impacts on various regions of the
world, including Iran, is “dust storm”. In recent years, this phenomenon has taken on new dimensions in Iran and
has changed from a local problem to a national issue. This study is an attempt to investigate the formation of the
dust storms crossing the Western Iran.
Methodology: To find the sources of the dust storms entering Iran, first we examine three determined dust paths
in the region and their temporal activities, using MODIS satellite images. Then, four regions were identified as dust
sources through soil, land cover and wind data. Finally, atmospheric analyses are implemented to find synoptic
patterns inducing dust storms.
Results and discussion: Source 1 has covered the region between the eastern banks of Euphrates and western
banks of Tigris. Source 2 is in desert area of western and south-western Iraq. Finally source 3 is bounded in eastern
and south-eastern deserts of Saudi Arabia called Rub-Al-Khali desert, or Empty Quarter. Moreover, south-eastern part
of Iraq (source 4) was also determined as a secondary source which thickens the dust masses originating from the
above mentioned sources. The study of synoptic circulations suggests that the dust storms originating from source
1 are formed due to the intense pressure gradient between the low-pressure system of Zagros and a high-pressure
cell formed on Mediterranean Sea. The dust events in sources 2 and 3 are outcomes of the atmospheric circulations
dominant in the cold period of the year in mid-latitudes.
