Transmission of Dust Storms Related to Shamal Winds in Iraq Using Remote Sensing and Ground Data

Dust storms are common in arid and semi-dry lands, and the severity and frequency of dust activities have increased considerably through recent years in the Middle East region. The study aims to analyze the correlation among dust emissions and Shamal winds in Iraq. In this study meteorological data and remote sensing techniques (HYSPLIT model, MODIS satellite, and AOD) are applied to achieve this aim. A dust emission associated with Shamal winds over Iraq on 13 May 2023 showed potential dust sources were from Al-Jazeera and Western Deserts in Iraq as well as the Syrian Desert. Dust emissions from Syria and Iraq and the predominant transfer routes of dust events in Iraq are generally controlled by Shamal winds (north - northwest) according to the HYSPLIT back pathways. Wind direction and speed data analysis provided some proof to refer likely adjacent and local origins for dust based on the weather map. During this severe dust storm the AOD values from the Aqua - Terra sensors by MODIS satellite were high. The maximum PM10 concentration exceed 500 μg/m 3 in Baghdad around 12:00 PM on 13 May 2023.