干旱区研究

Arid Zone Research >

2023 , Vol. 40 >Issue 6: 896 - 904

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13866/j.azr.2023.06.05

Weather and Climate

Spatial-temporal variability of eolian dust in Egypt, North Africa

  • Yibo XUE ,
  • Xiaoxiao ZHANG ,
  • Jiaqiang LEI ,
  • Shengyu LI ,
  • Yongdong WANG ,
  • Yuan YOU
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  • 1. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
    2. National Engineering Research Center for Desert-Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China

Received date: 2022-10-07

  Revised date: 2023-02-22

  Online published: 2023-06-21

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Abstract

The Sahara region of northern Africa is seriously affected by drought and desertification, and eolian dust activity disasters are considered severe. The arid and semi-arid regions of Egypt in northern Africa were the focus of this study. Based on daily observation data from meteorological stations between 1990 and 2020, and the data obtained from satellite remote sensing products, the spatiotemporal variability characteristics of eolian dust activity disasters in Egypt and their possible associations were assessed. The main influencing factors of eolian dust activity disasters were further discussed. The frequency of eolian dust activities in Egypt varied from 20 to 65 d·a-1 over the past 30 years, showing an overall declining trend with fluctuations. The annual average total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration in Egypt fluctuates was 400-1200 μg·mg-3 and showed an overall decreasing trend over the past 30 years. The highest TSP concentration occurred during spring in Egypt and reached over 2300 μg·m-3. Eolian dust activity in Egypt has a high intensity level when compared to other arid and semi-arid regions of the world; Egypt has the highest frequency of blowing dust, followed by dust in suspension, dust storm, and severe dust storm. The blowing dust that occurs in spring and summer accounts for more than 60% of the total eolian dust weather throughout the year. Ambient TSP concentrations in Egypt are highly correlated with the frequency of eolian dust activity due to wind erosion; There has been a deceasing trend in surface wind speed over the past 30 years, and wind erosion is an important factor affecting air quality in the oasis areas. The frequency of eolian dust activity is significantly negatively correlated with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation with a correlation coefficient of -0.67. This work provides theoretical basis and data support for a comprehensive understanding of the spatial-temporal characteristics of eolian dust weather in Egypt, North Africa, and the prevention of dust storm disasters.

Key words： Egypt; aeolian dust; spatial-temporal change; environmental evolution

Cite this article

Yibo XUE , Xiaoxiao ZHANG , Jiaqiang LEI , Shengyu LI , Yongdong WANG , Yuan YOU . Spatial-temporal variability of eolian dust in Egypt, North Africa[J]. Arid Zone Research, 2023 , 40(6) : 896 -904 . DOI: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.06.05

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