Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations
This study covers various aspects of the aerosol distribution and characteristics, namely, optical depth climatology, absorption characteristics, and their microphysical properties over four regions in Saudi Arabia using satellite and ground observations including MODIS/Terra and Aqua, OMI, MISR/Ter...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Meteorology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/247531 |
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| author | Ashraf Farahat Hesham El-Askary Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani |
| author_facet | Ashraf Farahat Hesham El-Askary Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani |
| author_sort | Ashraf Farahat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study covers various aspects of the aerosol distribution and characteristics, namely, optical depth climatology, absorption characteristics, and their microphysical properties over four regions in Saudi Arabia using satellite and ground observations including MODIS/Terra and Aqua, OMI, MISR/Terra, AERONET, and CALIPSO for the period April 2003–January 2013. The study includes cities in the North Western, Western, Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia and in the Rub al Khali desert or Empty Quarter. Satellite and ground observations showed that the dust season extends from April to August with prominent peaks yet with high anthropogenic contribution late summer and early fall. Analysis shows an increase in the aerosol concentration during March 2009 which could be attributed to a major dust storm during that time. Comparing the AOD time series over regions 1–3 and region 4 (desert) we observe monthly and annual variability with no recurrence pattern over the years. The Aqua Deep Blue AOD550 data shows a single peak pattern that occurs over region 4 during the spring season known for its frequent dust events. OMI data shed the light on the presence of higher air pollution levels over region 3, representing the oil rich eastern province of Saudi Arabia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a1874224f0548bea9ccdc4e60f42e57 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9309 1687-9317 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Meteorology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a1874224f0548bea9ccdc4e60f42e572025-02-03T01:30:08ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172015-01-01201510.1155/2015/247531247531Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground ObservationsAshraf Farahat0Hesham El-Askary1Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani2Department of Prep Year Physics, College of Applied and Supporting Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi ArabiaSchmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USADepartment of Earth Science, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi ArabiaThis study covers various aspects of the aerosol distribution and characteristics, namely, optical depth climatology, absorption characteristics, and their microphysical properties over four regions in Saudi Arabia using satellite and ground observations including MODIS/Terra and Aqua, OMI, MISR/Terra, AERONET, and CALIPSO for the period April 2003–January 2013. The study includes cities in the North Western, Western, Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia and in the Rub al Khali desert or Empty Quarter. Satellite and ground observations showed that the dust season extends from April to August with prominent peaks yet with high anthropogenic contribution late summer and early fall. Analysis shows an increase in the aerosol concentration during March 2009 which could be attributed to a major dust storm during that time. Comparing the AOD time series over regions 1–3 and region 4 (desert) we observe monthly and annual variability with no recurrence pattern over the years. The Aqua Deep Blue AOD550 data shows a single peak pattern that occurs over region 4 during the spring season known for its frequent dust events. OMI data shed the light on the presence of higher air pollution levels over region 3, representing the oil rich eastern province of Saudi Arabia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/247531 |
| spellingShingle | Ashraf Farahat Hesham El-Askary Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations Advances in Meteorology |
| title | Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations |
| title_full | Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations |
| title_fullStr | Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations |
| title_short | Study of Aerosols’ Characteristics and Dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using a Multisensor Approach Combined with Ground Observations |
| title_sort | study of aerosols characteristics and dynamics over the kingdom of saudi arabia using a multisensor approach combined with ground observations |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/247531 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ashraffarahat studyofaerosolscharacteristicsanddynamicsoverthekingdomofsaudiarabiausingamultisensorapproachcombinedwithgroundobservations AT heshamelaskary studyofaerosolscharacteristicsanddynamicsoverthekingdomofsaudiarabiausingamultisensorapproachcombinedwithgroundobservations AT abdulazizalshaibani studyofaerosolscharacteristicsanddynamicsoverthekingdomofsaudiarabiausingamultisensorapproachcombinedwithgroundobservations |