Abstract
We analyze ten years (2008–2017) of ground-based observations of the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in the atmosphere of Kuwait City, in Middle East. The measurements were conducted with a CIMEL sun-sky photometer, at various wavelengths. The daily average AOD at 500 nm (AOD500) is 0.45, while the mean Ångström coefficient (AE), calculated from the pair of wavelengths 440 and 870 nm, is 0.61. The observed high AOD500 values (0.75–2.91), are due to regional sand and dust storm events, which are affecting Kuwait with a mean annual frequency of almost 20 days/year. The long-term record analysis of AOD500 and AE, shows a downward and upward tendency respectively, something which could be attributed to the continuous expansion and industrialization of the main city of Kuwait, in combination with the simultaneous increase of soil moisture over the area. By utilizing back trajectories of air masses for up to 4 days, we assessed the influence of various regions to the aerosol load over Kuwait. The high aerosol loads during spring, are attributed to the dominance of coarse particles from Saudi Arabia (AOD500 0.56–0.74), a source area that contributes the 56% to the mean annual AOD500. Other dust sources affecting significantly Kuwait originated from the regions of Iraq and Iran with contribution of 21%.
Highlights
It has been already identified and commonly accepted, that aerosols are holding a very important role to the Earth’s climate (e.g., [1])
Gro(u0n.2d6-–b0a.s2e9d). retrieved Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is compared against MODIS retrievals obtained over the area for the Gsarmouentidm-beapseedriordet.rOienveadnAanOnDuaisl bcaosmisp, aMreOdDaIgSafionustnMd tOoDhIaSvreeatrmieevaanlsoovbetraeisnteimd aotvioenr tohfeAaOreDa for up ttohe15s%am. e time period
MODIS found to have a mean overestimation of AOD
Summary
It has been already identified and commonly accepted, that aerosols are holding a very important role to the Earth’s climate (e.g., [1]). The aim of this study is to investigate a short term aerosol climatology at Kuwait, on the eastern edge of Arabian desert, which is less studied compared to other desert regions and quantify the trends under rapid urban development and alteration of general meteorological conditions. Within this framework, part of the scientific effort is focused on the improvement and sustainability of continuous measurements, through the establishment of networks dedicated to systematic aerosol observations. Main objectives of operational networks are to provide, long-term global climatological aerosol properties and to validate satellite observations and evaluate global and regional aerosol models
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