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Drought severity and increased dust storm frequency in the Middle East: a case study from the Tigris–Euphrates alluvial plain, central Iraq
Author(s) -
Al Ameri Ismael D. S.,
Briant Rebecca M.,
Engels Stefan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.467
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1477-8696
pISSN - 0043-1656
DOI - 10.1002/wea.3445
Subject(s) - storm , dust storm , alluvial plain , alluvium , climatology , climate change , environmental science , geology , physical geography , geography , oceanography , geomorphology , paleontology
Dust storms can cause significant environmental and economic damage. An increase in dust and sand storm frequency has been experienced in Iraq over recent times and seems likely to increase further under future climate change. This study analyses the relationship between local climate and the occurrence of dust storms in central Iraq, and concludes that dust emission variability is governed primarily by wind speed.