Detection and Numerical Simulation of Dust Storm in Kermanshah

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student of Meteorology, Department of Meteorology, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Professor of Meteorology, Department of Meteorology, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

3 Associate Professor of Health and Environmental Engineering, Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Department of Health and Environmental Engineering, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

4 MSc student of Remote sensing and Geographic Information System, Department Remote sensing and Geographic Information System, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the epicenter and co-occurrence factors of dust storm waves in Kermanshah from 16 to 18 June 2016. To investigate the synoptic conditions of the causes of this phenomenon, data set with a resolution of 0.125º arcs from the European Center for Medium-Term Atmospheric Prediction (ESMWF), including geopotential height at 500 hPa, omega at 700 hPa, sea level pressure, orbital components and meridian at 300 hPa level, specific moisture at 700 hPa level, soil moisture up to 10 cm depth and dust optical depth were used. To route, the origin of dust particles, the Lagrangian method of the HYSPLIT model was used 48 hours before the occurrence of dust phenomenon in Kermanshah at three altitude levels of 200, 1000, and 1500 m. The dust storm was also simulated using WRF-chem numerical weather forecasting model. Finally, through the processing of MODIS satellite images, its scope was determined. Examination of HYSPLIT tracking maps showed that the central and western deserts of Iraq and the Syrian are the main sources of dust for the study area. In synoptic conditions, simultaneously with the occurrence of rising dust, cyclonic systems play a significant role in the transmission of this phenomenon. Significant strengthening of the Iraqi low-pressure system along with the formation of traffic in the Zagros mountains has caused the creation and transfer of dust in the warm period of the year to the study area. The spatial distribution of the dust interpreted by the MODIS images is consistent with the spatial distribution of the dust concentration simulated by the WRF-chem model.

Keywords


  1. Ackermann, I.J., Hass, H., Memmesheimer, M., Ebel, A., Binkowski, F.S., & Shankar, U. (1998). Modal aerosol dynamics model for Europe: development and first applications. Atmospheric Environment, 32(17), 2981–2999.
  2. Ashrafi, Kh., Shafiepour-Motlagh, M., Aslemand, A., & Ghadri, S. (2014). Dust storm simulation over Iran using HYSPLIT. Environmental Health Science & Engineering, 12, 3-12.
  3. Behyar, M.B. (2015). Zoning risk degree of climatic phenomena and dust storms in roads network of the country using satellite data. Geographical Research Quarterly, 30(2), 103-112.
  4. Bian, H., Tie, X., Cao, J., Ying, Z., Han, S., & Xue, Y. (2011). Analysis of a severe dust storm event over China: application of the WRF-Dust model, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 11(4), 419_428.
  5. Binkowski, F., & Shankar, U. (1995). the regional particulate matter model. 1. model description and preliminary results. Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 100(D12), 26191–26209.
  6. Dagsson-Waldhauserova, P., Osp Magnusdottir, A., Olafsson, H., & Arnalds, O. (2016). The spatial variation of dust particulate matter concentrations during two Lcelandic dust storms in 2015. Atmosphere, 7(6), 77.
  7. Draxler, R.R. and Hess, G, D. (1998). An overview of the HYSPLIT_4 modelling system of trajectories, dispersio, and deposition. Australian Meteorological Magazine, 47, 295- 308.
  8. Engelstadler, S. (2001). Dust storm frequencies and their relationships to land surface conditions. Freidrich Schiller University Press, Germany.
  9. Fallah -Zazuli, M., Vafaeinezhad, A. R., Kheirkhah- Zarkesh, M. M., & Ahmadi Dehka, F. (2014). Source routing of dust haze phenomenon in the west and southwest of Iran and its synoptic analysis by using remote sensing and GIS, RS and GIS for Natural Resources, 5(4), 61-77. (in Farsi)
  10. Goudie, A.S., & Middleton, N.J. (2001). Saharan dust storms: nature and consequences, Earth-Science Reviews, 56(1-4), 179-204.
  11. Grell, G.A., Peckham, S.E., Schmitz, R., McKeen, S.A., Frost, G., Skamarock, W.C., & Eder, B. (2005). Fully coupled “online” chemistry within the WRF model. Atmospheric Environment. 39(37), 6957–6975.
  12. Heidari-Farsani, M., Shirmardi, M., Alavi, N., Maleki, H., Sorooshian, A., Babaei, A.A., Asgharnia, H., Bagherian -Marzouni, M., & Goudarzi, Gh.R. (2018). Evaluation of the relationship between PM10 concentrations and heavy metals during normal and dusty days in Ahvaz, Iran, Aeolin Research, 33, 12-22.
  13. Hejazizadeh, Z., Toulabi-Nejad, M., Zarei-Chaghabalaki, Z., Amraeei, B. (2019). Monitoring of dust storm in the midwest of Iran case study: dust storm June 16-19, 2015. Spatial Analysis Environmental Hazards. 5(4), 107-124. (in Farsi)
  14. Khorshiddoust, A.M., Mohamadi, Gh.H., Hosseini-Sadr, A., Javan, Kh., & Jamali, A. (2014). Synoptic analysis of effective factors on dust frequency in west of Iran. Geography and Planning, 17(46), 47-66. (in Farsi)
  15. Mohammadi, Gh.H. (2016). Analysis of atmospheric mechanisms in dust transport over west of Iran. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tabriz.PP: 170. (in Farsi)
  16. Namdari, S., Karimi, N., Sorooshian, A., Mohammadi, Gh.H., & Sehatkashani, S. (2018). Impacts of climate and synoptic fluctuations on dust storm activity over the Middle East, Atmospheric environment ,173, 265-276.
  17. Nikfal, A.H. (2014). Simulation of the density of PM10 particulates by the coupled WRF-Chem modeling system over the region of Iran. Proceedings of the 16th Iranian Geophysical Conference, 77-81. (in Farsi)
  18. Sari-Sarraf, B., Rasouli, A.A., Mohammadi, GH.H., & Hoseini-Sadr, A. (2016). Long- term trends of seasonal dusty day characteristic- West Iran, Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(10), 1-10.
  19. Shao, Y., & Dong C.H. (2006). A review on East Asian dust storm climate, modelling and monitoring. Global and Planetary Change, 52(1- 4), 1–22.
  20. Tanaka, T.Y., Chiba. M. (2006). A numerical study of the contribution of dust source regions to the global dust budget. Global and Planetary Change, 52(1-4), 88-104.