Abstract
Abstract. The extreme dust storm that affected the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean in September 2015 resulted in record-breaking dust loads over Cyprus with aerosol optical depth exceeding 5.0 at 550 nm. We analyse this event using profiles from the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), geostationary observations from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), and high-resolution simulations from the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). The analysis of modelling and remote sensing data reveals the main mechanisms that resulted in the generation and persistence of the dust cloud over the Middle East and Cyprus. A combination of meteorological and surface processes is found, including (a) the development of a thermal low in the area of Syria that results in unstable atmospheric conditions and dust mobilization in this area, (b) the convective activity over northern Iraq that triggers the formation of westward-moving haboobs that merge with the previously elevated dust layer, and (c) the changes in land use due to war in the areas of northern Iraq and Syria that enhance dust erodibility.
Highlights
A record dust storm affected the entire Middle East and Cyprus in September 2015
Another parameter that plays an important role for the process of dust source activation is the difwww.atmos-chem-phys.net/17/4063/2017/
A combination of meteorological and land-use conditions resulted in the formation of an unprecedented dust episode over the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean during 6–11 September 2015
Summary
A record dust storm affected the entire Middle East and Cyprus in September 2015. Remote sensing and in situ measurements of Arabian dust from this episode during 7– 11 September 2015 are presented by Mamouri et al (2016) for the station of Limassol (34.7◦ N, 33◦ E). Haboobs are usually generated over remote arid areas, where no in situ networks are present and on-site dust-storm measurements can only be obtained during field campaign experiments (e.g. SAharan Mineral dUst experiMent, SAMUM, 1 and 2; Ansmann et al, 2011; FENNEC, Ryder et al, 2015) Following these limitations, most of the efforts for the studying and forecasting of such intense dust episodes rely on passive and active remote sensing (e.g. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS; European Aerosol Research Lidar Network, EARLINET; and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation, CALIPSO) and on high-resolution modelling simulations. Asian haboobs from the Taklimakan and Gobi deserts are described and simulated in Takemi (1999, 2005) All these studies agree on the complexity of the various physical processes at multiple atmospheric scales that govern the generation and lifetime of these systems.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
