Observing Atmospheric Dynamics and Dust Activity - 2nd Volume

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 6735

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 11810 Athens, Greece
Interests: solar radiation; aerosols; remote sensing; dust; meteorology; climatology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric dynamics and dust activity are interrelated phenomena, since certain atmospheric circulation patterns facilitate the emission of dust over arid/semi-arid areas around the globe and, on the other hand, radiative forcing of dust may modulate local and regional weather conditions. Dust aerosols have significant impacts on the regional and global climate, on air quality, on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and on human health and are systematically examined around the globe via a synergy of ground-based, airborne, and satellite instrumentation and numerical simulations. This Special Issue seeks high-quality and innovative manuscripts focusing on the interrelation between atmospheric/meteorological dynamics and dust activity (from emission to final deposition) over global desert and semi-desert regions. Papers examining dust–radiation and dust–cloud interactions are also highly welcome, as are analyses of optical, physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of dust and the seasonality in dust activity over specific regions, sources, sinks, and transport pathways of the dust plumes, along with the impacts of dust on climate, ecosystems, and human health.

Dr. Dimitris Kaskaoutis
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Meteorology and dust storms 
  • Dust–radiation interactions 
  • Dust–cloud interactions 
  • Dust dynamics modeling 
  • Dust chemistry and mineralogy 
  • Dust optical properties 
  • Dust impacts

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

27 pages, 13855 KiB  
Article
Atmospheric Dynamics and Numerical Simulations of Six Frontal Dust Storms in the Middle East Region
by Nasim Hossein Hamzeh, Sara Karami, Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis, Ina Tegen, Mohamad Moradi and Christian Opp
Atmosphere 2021, 12(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010125 - 18 Jan 2021
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 5911
Abstract
This study analyzes six frontal dust storms in the Middle East during the cold period (October–March), aiming to examine the atmospheric circulation patterns and force dynamics that triggered the fronts and the associated (pre- or post-frontal) dust storms. Cold troughs mostly located over [...] Read more.
This study analyzes six frontal dust storms in the Middle East during the cold period (October–March), aiming to examine the atmospheric circulation patterns and force dynamics that triggered the fronts and the associated (pre- or post-frontal) dust storms. Cold troughs mostly located over Turkey, Syria and north Iraq played a major role in the front propagation at the surface, while cyclonic conditions and strong winds facilitated the dust storms. The presence of an upper-atmosphere (300 hPa) sub-tropical jet stream traversing from Egypt to Iran constitutes also a dynamic force accompanying the frontal dust storms. Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) observations are used to monitor the spatial and vertical extent of the dust storms, while model (Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), Regional Climate Model-4 (RegCM4)) simulations are also analyzed. The WRF-Chem outputs were in better agreement with the MODIS observations compared to those of CAMS and RegCM4. The fronts were identified by WRF-Chem simulations via gradients in the potential temperature and sudden changes of wind direction in vertical cross-sections. Overall, the uncertainties in the simulations and the remarkable differences between the model outputs indicate that modelling of dust storms in the Middle East is really challenging due to the complex terrain, incorrect representation of the dust sources and soil/surface characteristics, and uncertainties in simulating the wind speed/direction and meteorological dynamics. Given the potential threat by dust storms, more attention should be directed to the dust model development in this region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Observing Atmospheric Dynamics and Dust Activity - 2nd Volume)
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