Subjects: Geosciences >> Atmospheric Sciences submitted time 2023-08-25 Cooperative journals: 《干旱区研究》
Abstract： The Sahara region of northern Africa is seriously affected by drought and desertification, and eoliandust activity disasters are considered severe. The arid and semi-arid regions of Egypt in northern Africa were thefocus of this study. Based on daily observation data from meteorological stations between 1990 and 2020, and thedata obtained from satellite remote sensing products, the spatiotemporal variability characteristics of eolian dustactivity disasters in Egypt and their possible associations were assessed. The main influencing factors of eoliandust activity disasters were further discussed. The frequency of eolian dust activities in Egypt varied from 20 to65 d·a− 1 over the past 30 years, showing an overall declining trend with fluctuations. The annual average totalsuspended particulate (TSP) concentration in Egypt fluctuates was 400-1200 μg·mg− 3 and showed an overalldecreasing trend over the past 30 years. The highest TSP concentration occurred during spring in Egypt andreached over 2300 μg·m− 3. Eolian dust activity in Egypt has a high intensity level when compared to other aridand semi- arid regions of the world; Egypt has the highest frequency of blowing dust, followed by dust insuspension, dust storm, and severe dust storm. The blowing dust that occurs in spring and summer accounts formore than 60% of the total eolian dust weather throughout the year. Ambient TSP concentrations in Egypt arehighly correlated with the frequency of eolian dust activity due to wind erosion; There has been a deceasing trendin surface wind speed over the past 30 years, and wind erosion is an important factor affecting air quality in theoasis areas. The frequency of eolian dust activity is significantly negatively correlated with the Atlanticmultidecadal oscillation with a correlation coefficient of − 0.67. This work provides theoretical basis and datasupport for a comprehensive understanding of the spatial-temporal characteristics of eolian dust weather in Egypt,North Africa, and the prevention of dust storm disasters.
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