Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D., Department of Water Engineering, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, sari, Iran. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7941-4948 , Email: alirezau3fikrbriya@gmail.com
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Computer and Cybernetics, Faculty of Engineering and Aviation, Imam Ali (AS) Military University, Tehran, Iran. Email: Khalili@IAMU.ac.ir, Tel: +98 912 947 3550
3 - Ph.D., Department of Geography and Climatology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Imam Ali (AS) Military University, Tehran, Iran. Email: rezaei_hasan63@yahoo.com, Tel: +98 915 472 2495
Abstract
Dust storms have intensified in Ilam Province, western Iran, in recent years, posing serious environmental, health, agricultural, and infrastructural challenges. The province’s geographical location adjacent to Iraq and Syria exposes it to frequent transboundary dust events originating from arid zones in neighboring countries. This study aimed to monitor the spatial and temporal patterns of dust activity and identify major source regions from 2020 to 2025. Ground-based particulate matter (PM) data were collected from air quality monitoring stations in Mehran and Dehloran. Additionally, satellite-derived indices including Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from MODIS, Absorbing Aerosol Index (AAI) from Sentinel-5P, the Normalized Difference Dust Index (NDDI), and Dust Event Count Maps (DECM) were analyzed using the Google Earth Engine platform. Dust transport pathways were investigated using 24-hour backward trajectory simulations from the HYSPLIT model.
Results indicated a significant rise in dust frequency, with the highest number of events recorded in 2022 (over 200 events in border regions). Despite a slight decline in 2023 and 2024, dust activity remained concentrated near the border. AAI values exceeded 1.3 in 2022, and AOD reached critical levels above 1.85 in southern Ilam. NDDI peaked in 2021, indicating high dust deposition, then declined in subsequent years. HYSPLIT simulations for two critical dust events in 2025 traced the origins to western Iraq and eastern Syria. Dust plumes entered Ilam Province and led to maximum AQI values of 500 at Mehran and Dehloran stations.
Overall, the findings confirm the intensification of dust events in Ilam and the dominant role of external sources in Iraq and Syria. The integration of satellite-based indices and trajectory modeling proved effective in determining dust origin, movement, and intensity. These results highlight the urgent need for soil stabilization, vegetation restoration, regional cooperation, and the development of satellite-based early warning systems to mitigate future risks.
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