Assessment of dust storm emission in Hormozgan Province using HYSPLIT

Dust storms are one of the atmospheric phenomena which has many negative effects for Hormozgan Province, as one of the most important population and tourism centers in the south and with significant and strategic facilities in the country. For this reason, todays determining the hotspots and areas affected by the storm, as well as identifying important routes of entry and movement is one of the most important needs of relevant organizations in this province. In order to study the dust phenomenon in Hormozgan Province, first, all meteorological data of 12 synoptic stations in the region between 2000 and 2018 were analyzed and 48 dust storm events were identified that their horizontal visibility has decreased to less than 1000 meters and dust mass detection operations were performed using MODIS satellite images and four detection algorithms of Ackerman, TDI, TIIDI and NDDI and areas affected by storm as well as areas of origin were identified. HYSPLIT particle Lagrangian diffusion model was used to route the motion of the dust storm and the entry routes of dust storms into the province also, its routes and areas that have the most impact in this area were identified. Comparing results of four dust detection algorithms indicated better performance of TDI algorithm compared to other algorithms in detecting the focus and mass of dust in the area. According to the results, eastern regions of Hormozgan Province, Jazmourian Wetland, eastern Sistan and Baluchestan, western regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as central and southern regions of Saudi are one of the most important centers of dust production in the region. Investigating HYSPLIT model maps indicates the existence of three general routes of entry and creation of dust storms in the area which includes the southwestern regions of the country, the south-north route and the north and northwest route. Also, based on model results, about 53.7% of the path of movement and the release of dust after a storm is to the north and northeast direction which causes the spread of pollution and intensification of dust concentration in cities such as Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Minab, Rudan, Jiroft, Kahnooj, Bam, Iranshahr, Khash, Mirjaveh and Zahedan. Also, about 22.3% of the storms in the region consider the southern route, 14.8% the south-west route and 9.2% the east route to continue their navigation.