The Effect of Some Climatic Parameters on Temporal Variations of Sand and Dust Storm Events Over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Chapter 4 | Geography, Earth Science and Environment: Research Highlights Vol. 10

This study examines the increasing incidence of sand and dust storm (SDS) events in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their environmental and social impacts. Dust and sand storms (SDS) are prevalent in arid regions like the Arabian Peninsula, significantly impacting environmental conditions and human health. SDS events are natural phenomena that adversely affect air quality and human health, as well as the local economy. The objective of the study is to analyze the relationship between climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, and the occurrence of dust from 2007 to 2023, identifying spatial and temporal patterns. A multiple linear regression model was employed to assess data from the National Center for Meteorology, revealing a significant positive correlation between rising temperatures and SDS events, where a one-unit increase in temperature leads to an increase of 0.186 in the frequency of dust occurrences. Conversely, increased atmospheric pressure and precipitation are associated with decreases in dust occurrences. Additionally, higher wind speeds significantly reduce the number of events. Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that temperature be used as an indicator or predictor for SDS events in forecasting models, enhancing the ability to predict these phenomena and promoting sustainable environmental management strategies.

 

Author (s) Details

Zakiah Al-Hajji
Sand and Dust Storm Warning Regional Center, National Center for Meteorology, P.O. Box 2749, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

 

Said Munir
National Center for Meteorology, P.O. Box 2749, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

 

Jumaan Al- Qahtani
Sand and Dust Storm Warning Regional Center, National Center for Meteorology, P.O. Box 2749, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

 

Ioannis Alexiou
Saudi Aramco, Climate and Sustainability Consultant, P.O. Box 31311, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

 

Mohamed Hafez
Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2456, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/geserh/v10/5120

Models for Semideciduous Seasonal Forest Production of Leaves and Deciduousness: Recent Perspectives | Chapter 4 | International Research in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol.2

 The climate, mainly the water availability and temperature, drives the renewal of biomass in seasonal

forest ecosystem, and the greenness and leaf area of its canopy are responsive by climate variations.
The renewal of leaves indicated by deciduousness can be model to obtain the estimates of this
component as an additional compartment of the ecosystem carbon sink. In this study was investigated
the relationship between litterfall, climate variables, Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index (NDVI) in semideciduous forests, to test models to explain the leaf production and
deciduousness by time. The data were obtained in satellite images and in plots installed at forest
monitoring sites, visited monthly. The tests were conducted in eight semideciduous forest fragments.
Permanent plots were monitored monthly and LAI measurements and weighing of litterfall deposited
in nets. In this time, Landsat and IRS satellite images were obtained and processed for generation of
NDVI. The water balance was calculated for each day. The relationship among the variables “leaf dry
weight”, “LAI”, “NDVI” and climate variables were verified and regression models was build and
evaluated. With monitoring of the sites, the model was validated and reviewed with new variables and
data and three equations were compared. It is possible to estimate the fall and renew of leaves
biomass in semideciduous forests with reasonable precision. This study showed that only the leaf
component of the litterfall of a semideciduous forest in tropical climate can capture average 6.5
Mg.ha-1.yr-1 of CO2 and this amount can be estimated using climate, biophysics and vegetation index
variables.

Author(s) Details

Thomaz Correa e Castro da Costa
Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Road MG 424, Km 45, 35701-970 Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil.

João Herbert Moreira Viana
Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Road MG 424, Km 45, 35701-970 Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil.

View Book :- http://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/230