Impact of Source Area Desertification on Dust Storm Emission in the Western Parts of Iran

Iraq is one of the main sources of western part of Iran’s dust storm. Iran’s western part dust storms considered hazardous problem that cause many environment and socio-economic impacts. Sensitive areas to desertification were identified by Environmental Sensitivity Areas (ESAs) in the source area of western part of Iran’s dust storms for 2003 and 2007. RS and GIS data have been used to assess the desertification severity and its relation with the pervasive dust storms occurrences in western parts of Iran. The comparison of ESAs maps over studied years, indicate the severity of desertification has been increased in 2007. Source area desertification may cause western part of Iran’s dust storms. Generally, the occurrences of western part of Iran’s dust storms have become more frequent over studied years.