The March 2009 dust event in Saudi Arabia: Precursor and supportive environment

Alharbi, Badr; Maghrabi, A.; Tapper, N.

doi:10.1175/bams-d-11-00118

Cited by 26 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…Moreover, synoptically, the interaction of the northern Arabian Peninsula anticyclone and south Iran cyclone formed a strong northern wind (shamal wind) that was a factor in the generation of regional dust storms (Shao et al, 2011;Hamidi et al, 2013Hamidi et al, , 2014Yu et al, 2016). Furthermore, the synoptic systems accompanying dust events over the Arabian Peninsula were described as the interaction between the Mediterranean anticyclone and the Arabian Peninsula cyclone or Red Sea trough (Blake et al, 1983;Middleton, 1986;Mohalfi et al, 1998;Alharbi et al, 2013;Hamidi et al, 2013;Notaro et al, 2013;Rezazadeh et al, 2013;Awad et al, 2015b), which form an area of pressure gradients and/or front systems (Hamidi et al, 2013). On the other hand, the dust synoptic system may be a combination between the Red Sea trough and the Arabian Peninsula anticyclone, which form an anticyclone wind pattern (Mohalfi et al, 1998;Alharbi et al, 2013;Hamidi et al, 2013;Awad et al, 2015b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monthly and seasonal variability of dust events over northern Saudi Arabia

Mashat

Awad

Alamoudi

et al. 2019

Intl Journal of Climatology

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The monthly and seasonal variability and distribution of dust events over northern Saudi Arabia were studied using ground‐based measurements from 11 surface stations for the period of 1978–2010. Additionally, to study the synoptic climatology of the dust variability, the aerosol index (AI) data from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) satellite and meteorological data from the National Center for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis datasets were used. The dust types observed at the surface stations are classified into two categories: weak dust and dust storms. A statistical study of the ground measurements demonstrated that weak dust category events are prevalent in the cold months, whereas storm category events are prevalent in the hot months. Additionally, the annual distribution distinguishes two periods for dust observations, before and after 1989, where the number of events in the first period is lower than the annual average but increases during the second period. The synoptic climate study indicated that two main atmospheric wind patterns, anticyclonic and northerly (shamal) patterns, accompany the dust events in the study area. The dust in winter and autumn is mainly affected by the anticyclonic pattern, while that in spring and summer is mainly affected by the shamal pattern. In addition, a synoptic study of selected cases confirmed the climate results and demonstrated the existence of two atmospheric patterns corresponding to winter and summer. Both patterns include troughs over the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf and a ridge or high‐pressure cell over the eastern Mediterranean region during the summer atmospheric pattern and over the mid‐Arabian Peninsula during the winter atmospheric pattern. The characteristic of non‐dust storm composition demonstrated that the storms exhibit pronounced synoptic systems (winter and summer) with the highest pressure/geopotential gradient near the Arabian Peninsula.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monthly and seasonal variability of dust events over northern Saudi Arabia

Mashat

Awad

Alamoudi

et al. 2019

Intl Journal of Climatology

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“…By doing this, the effect of seasonality is minimized. This is because the behaviour and causes of dust storms in the AP in the wet season are completely different from the dry season (Prospero et al ., ; Taghavi and Asadi, ; Hamidi et al ., ; Alharbi et al ., ) (all stations' wet season DSA time series are in the Appendix). Then, a matrix of all stations' wet season DSA is constructed, which is then utilized in the regionalization process.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the wet season (October–May), dust storms are caused by prefrontal and postfrontal winds that are associated with eastward travelling depressions from the Mediterranean Sea. However, in summer, the persistent northerly and northwesterly winds induced by the Indian monsoon low pressure system are the main cause (Prospero et al ., ; Taghavi and Asadi, ; Hamidi et al ., ; Alharbi et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arabian Peninsula wet season dust storm distribution: regionalization and trends analysis (1983–2013)

Alobaidi

Almazroui

Mashat

et al. 2016

Intl Journal of Climatology

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A dust storm climatic regionalization of the Arabian Peninsula (AP) that aims to categorize the region into several cohesive sub‐regions is conducted. This approach was carried out by grouping together similar wet season climatological features of dust storm activity (DSA). A common period of 30 years (1983–2013) for 38 meteorological weather stations across the AP was utilized. The mathematical, statistical and subjective methods that are employed in the process of regionalization resulted in dividing the region into three sub‐regions. Each of the sub‐regions north, northwestern and central, northeast and south, west and coastal shows distinct features of its own. Subsequently, the temporal trend of the representative station (key station) for each sub‐region is examined. It is found that only the northeastern part of the region has a significant positive trend over the last 30 years. However, this positive increase in DSA is not associated with an increase in wind speed. This study assists future research in exploring the relationship between large‐scale forcing and the AP sub‐regional DSA. As well, this could enhance regional DSA forecast and future projections.

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“…A small arm in the east forms the Nafud Sebalah where the dome dunes gradually deteriorate into isolated dune forms. Recent evidence shows another potential iron-rich source from the entrainment and deposition of dust which can occur at any time in the year (Alharbi et al, 2013;Notaro et al, 2013) from many directions (Draxler et al, 2001;Cornforth, 2013;Yu et al, 2013). The accumulation of the sands in the depressions 2848 A. V. BRADLEY ET AL.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

A multi‐scale approach interpreting sediment processes and distribution from desert sand colour in central Saudi Arabia

Bradley

McLaren

Al-Dughairi

et al. 2018

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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In central Saudi Arabia the redness of sands observed on satellite imagery, often related to iron oxide amount, was used to better interpret geomorphic processes operating in the area. To compare variations between dune and interdune morphology, linear and dome dunes, and an ephemeral river partly buried under a sand sea, Nafud Al‐Thuwayrat, a multi‐scale approach was used to identify the spatial variation in causes of iron oxide amounts and colour. Macro‐scale mapping of Image Spectral Redness identified that the extent and intensity of colour grading across the orientation of well‐defined linear and dome dune types, interdunes and the Wadi Al‐Rimah, indicated sediment mixing of different provenance. Meso‐scale chemical, physical and colour analysis of surface samples indicated that iron oxide coated grains were present within all the samples and was not the sole control on Image Spectral Redness. The reddest sediments were the best sorted medium‐to fine‐quartz sands with iron oxide bearing chemistry and the paler sediments contained coarser sands with additional feldspars, calcite and gypsum. Micro‐scale analysis of grain characteristics found dune–interdune contrasts and that the reddest sands with iron coatings were of aeolian origin and the paler sands contained larger fluvial material mixed with reworked aeolian deposits. Dust in the area consists of high amounts of iron oxide and appears to be a major contributor to redness in the sand dunes. These controls on colour show the sand seas are paler westwards because a major river and local drainage systems deliver fluvial sediments from the carbonate and sandstone bedrock into the quartz‐rich aeolian material from the linear dunes. Evaporite deposits dominate in the paler interdunes, and south of the Wadi the dome dunes are the reddest as they are not migrating but building up. This multi‐scale approach has provided a modern analogy of processes for palaeoenvironmental studies. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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The March 2009 dust event in Saudi Arabia: Precursor and supportive environment

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

Monthly and seasonal variability of dust events over northern Saudi Arabia

Monthly and seasonal variability of dust events over northern Saudi Arabia

Arabian Peninsula wet season dust storm distribution: regionalization and trends analysis (1983–2013)

A multi‐scale approach interpreting sediment processes and distribution from desert sand colour in central Saudi Arabia

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