28Feb 2015

The synoptic patterns of widespread dust days in the northern Arabian Peninsula in summer

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Using an aerosol index (AI) threshold for the TOMS satellite, dust episodes were detected and classified. The selected cases show that approximately 82% of the summer is dusty, while 9.3% of the summer experiences widespread dust episodes. A statistical analysis of widespread dust episodes in summer demonstrated that there are four main synoptic patterns, which represent 52% of the cases over the northern Arabian Peninsula. In addition, a synoptic analysis of these main patterns shows that two factors control these cases: the scale of the pressure systems in the region and the interaction between the Azores high and Indian low pressure systems. The frequency of a synoptic pattern is inversely proportional to the scale of the influence of the synoptic features over the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, a frequent pattern appeared when the Azores high pressure system was strong and dominant, while a less frequent pattern appeared when the Indian low pressure was strong and dominant and when a high-pressure belt was present over the northern region. Moreover, two moderate patterns whose frequency depended on the synoptic similarity to one of the extreme patterns occurred.


[Adel Awad (2015); The synoptic patterns of widespread dust days in the northern Arabian Peninsula in summer Int. J. of Adv. Res. 3 (Feb). 0] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Adel M Awad