Synoptic analysis of Iran dust storm hazard ( July 30 to August 2 , 2012)

In this research, for determining the synoptic patterns of dust storm occurrence in northwest and northeast of Iran; four types of data were used including: Hourly data of dust phenomena and horizontal visibility for 30 meteorological stations in northwest and northeast of Iran. Six-hourly global data analysis from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, including air temperature, geo-potential height, U-wind and V-wind components, relative humidity, soil moisture and omega from 1000hPa to 500hPa, were used for the preparation of maps and identify the synoptic patterns by using GRADS software In order to identify the source of dust generation, tracing and simulating the path of dust particles, HYSPLIT model Lagrangian approach of backward trajectory was used. And to detect dust, the unreal images of METEOSAT-9 second generation for EUMETSAT satellite were used. Synoptic studies have shown that low and high pressure, and the vertical motion of air are the main causes of dust storms in Iran. The circulation of the atmosphere during dust storm, shows that a low pressure cell has been stretched from Pakistan to the south of Iran and from there to the deserts in Iraq, Syria.This condition causes the formation of cyclonic circulation in the East of Syria and west of Iraq on 31 July. Wind speed Increasing, cyclonic circulation, dry soil and lack of coverage, provided the conditions for removing the soil particles. Due to the extended ground surface's low pressure and weakening of the stable conditions of low level of troposphere, the approaching of trough has led to the beginning of a dust storm in Iraq deserts on jul31 and this unstable condition providing enough power to carry the soil particles away from its origin. Besides that, the stable location of ridge on Iran made anticyclone circulation in the wind blowing and it cause that the dust storm cycle the northern part of Iran and enter from northeast in to the country.