Atmospheric dynamics associated with exceptionally dusty conditions over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in March 2018

Kaskaoutis, Dimitris G.; Rashki, Alireza; Dumka, U. C.; Mofidi, Abbas; Kambezidis, H. D.; Psiloglou, Basil Ε.; Karagiannis, Dimitris; Petrinoli, Kalliopi; Gavriil, Ariadne

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2018.12.009

Cited by 34 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…The 6-hourly datasets of near-surface dust concentration (in µgm-3) and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) were obtained from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications-2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis database at spatial resolution of 0.5 × 0.625 • and at 72 hybrid-eta levels from surface to 0.01 hPa [42]. MERRA-2 reanalysis has been increasingly available for studying dust events and their interrelation with meteorology over the globe [43,44].…”

Section: Reanalysis Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2019

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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.

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Section: Reanalysis Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2019

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“…Furthermore, Dayan et al (2015) found that the southward movement of winter subtropical high-pressure cells (the SH and Azores High) tends to enhance the probability of precipitation and the development of extratropical cyclones throughout the Mediterranean region (Haggag and El-Badry, 2013). Moreover, over the Mediterranean region, the extended SH and associated atmospheric systems form a series of influences: the extended SH delivers cold/dry air masses to the warm/ moist Mediterranean surface, creating or intensifying cyclones, which, in turn, advect warm air towards the north/northeast, reducing the intensity of the SH over the region (Alpert and Reisin, 1986;Saaroni et al, 1996) or intensifying cyclone-induced dust storms over the eastern Mediterranean (Kaskaoutis et al, 2019). In addition, the westward extension of the SH into Europe is accompanied by the southwesterly advection of warm air into northern Europe, which influences storm tracks in the North Atlantic (Rogers, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The variability of the Siberian high ridge over the Middle East

Labban

Mashat

Awad

2020

Intl Journal of Climatology

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An objective method was developed to detect local cells of the Siberian high (SH) over the Middle East, and mean sea level pressure (SLP) data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis dataset were used to specify the centers of local SH cells and associated ridges. The results indicated that approximately 25.8% of winter SH cells influence the Middle East, and this influence diminishes from December to February. Synoptically, the area between the Black and Caspian Seas represents a remote area for sensing the influences of the SH on the Middle East. Although the SH is considered a shallow system, the variability of the effectiveness of the SH throughout the Middle East was estimated from the integration of atmospheric systems at the whole-atmosphere scale (from the surface to 200 hPa). Further, this study demonstrated that the westward extension of the SH over the Middle East is associated with weak cyclogenesis in the area between the Black and Caspian Seas; that is, the atmospheric systems are favourable for strengthening the upper-layer ridge in this area. However, the eastward retreat of the SH extension from the Middle East is associated with strong cyclogenesis in the area between the Black and Caspian Seas; that is, the atmospheric systems are unfavourable for strengthening the upper-layer ridge in this area. This study revealed the importance of the SH in the generation of the pressure gradient over the Arabian Peninsula and the associated development of dust storms and the Red Sea Trough.

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“…During March 2018, frequent intense dust storms affected Greece with the region of Libya being the originating source (Kaskaoutis et al, 2019). Strong surface and middle and upper troposphere Khamsin winds transported dust northwards for four distinct periods (i.e.,(4)(5)(6)(7)17,(21)(22)(25)(26).…”

Section: Desert Dust Particle Casementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, the lidar setup allows for the retrieval of coarse-mode and fine-mode backscatter coefficients for wavelengths of 532 and 1064 nm (e.g., Tesche et al, 2009). When synergistically used with a photometer, it is possible to retrieve their mass concentration profile (e.g., Ansmann et al, 2012;Lopatin et al, 2013;Chaikovsky et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An EARLINET early warning system for atmospheric aerosol aviation hazards

et al. 2020

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Abstract. A stand-alone lidar-based method for detecting airborne hazards for aviation in near real time (NRT) is presented. A polarization lidar allows for the identification of irregular-shaped particles such as volcanic dust and desert dust. The Single Calculus Chain (SCC) of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) delivers high-resolution preprocessed data: the calibrated total attenuated backscatter and the calibrated volume linear depolarization ratio time series. From these calibrated lidar signals, the particle backscatter coefficient and the particle depolarization ratio can be derived in temporally high resolution and thus provide the basis of the NRT early warning system (EWS). In particular, an iterative method for the retrieval of the particle backscatter is implemented. This improved capability was designed as a pilot that will produce alerts for imminent threats for aviation. The method is applied to data during two diverse aerosol scenarios: first, a record breaking desert dust intrusion in March 2018 over Finokalia, Greece, and, second, an intrusion of volcanic particles originating from Mount Etna, Italy, in June 2019 over Antikythera, Greece. Additionally, a devoted observational period including several EARLINET lidar systems demonstrates the network's preparedness to offer insight into natural hazards that affect the aviation sector.

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Atmospheric dynamics associated with exceptionally dusty conditions over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in March 2018

Cited by 34 publications

References 81 publications

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

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

The variability of the Siberian high ridge over the Middle East

An EARLINET early warning system for atmospheric aerosol aviation hazards

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