Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Researcher, Agricultural and natural resources research and education center of Sistan, Agricultural research, education and extension organization, Iran.
2
Associate Professor of research, Agricultural and natural resources research and education center of Sistan, Agricultural research, education and extension organization, Iran.
3
Professor of research, Research institute of forest and rangelands, Agricultural research, education and extension organization, Iran.
Abstract
Dust storms represent a significant atmospheric phenomenon and constitute a major environmental crisis in desert and arid regions. These events generate substantial adverse impacts across environmental, social, and economic dimensions in affected areas. This study investigated dust storms in North Baluchistan by analyzing their spatial distribution, temporal patterns, and transport pathways using MODIS satellite imagery and the HYSPLIT model. Daily dust events occurring between 2013 and 2023 were initially examined through the Giovanni web platform. Subsequently, MODIS Aqua sensor imagery corresponding to identified events was acquired for detailed analysis. The Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) index was derived from MODIS imagery for each dust event, while dust storm trajectories were reconstructed using both backward and forward trajectory analyses in the HYSPLIT model. The findings revealed that barren lands and sand dunes exhibited the highest AOD values among land use categories. The year 2022 emerged as the most critical period, recording an average AOD index of 0.36. Temporal analysis demonstrated considerable variability in both the frequency of dusty days and mean AOD values throughout the study period. Specifically, both parameters showed an upward trend from 2013 to 2018, followed by a decline through 2020. A subsequent increase occurred until 2022, after which both metrics decreased through 2023. HYSPLIT trajectory analysis identified multiple dust source regions, including international sources in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as domestic sources within the provinces of South Khorasan, Kerman, and Hormozgan. These results provide a scientific foundation for developing management strategies and control measures to mitigate dust particle emission in the North Baluchistan region.
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