Assessment of dust variability over Iraq during 2003-2012 using sciamachy absorbing aerosol index

Abstract EN

Dust storms are the most significant weather phenomena affecting Iraq and greatly degrading ecosystem and human health.

There has been an increase in the frequency of dust storms occurrence in Iraq and bordering countries of Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this research was to assist the variability of dust storms over Iraq using remotely sensed data.

Monthly means of Absorbing Aerosols Index (AI), satellite images, rain and wind were respectively acquired from TEMIS, MODIS, and MERRA-2 websites for a period of 10 years (2003- 2012).

Results of comparisons between MODIS images and AI maps for a dust event showed that AI provides a good indication of the initiation, development and transportation of dust particles.

Analysis of 10 years data indicated that the majority of dust events over Iraq are caused by the northwesterly wind (shamal wind) and the highest values of AI occur during the summer months.

Southern cities of Basra and Nasiriyah are the most affected cities by dust storms while the central cities of Baghdad and Anah are less affected.

Dust activities over Mosul and Rutba are relatively lower than those in the other four cities.

This may be attributed to relatively slower winds and much less sources of dust particles around the two cities.

Results also showed that rainfall plays an affecting rule in the occurrence of dust storms.

It was found that when rain increases in certain year AI tend to decrease in the flowing year.