Identification and Monitoring of Sand and Dust Storms Sources (SDSS) in East Azarbaijan Province

Dust is a weather problem that can cause serious environmental hazards and cause adverse effects on agriculture, industry, traffic and people's daily life. In this study, sources of dust and fine dust production in East Azarbaijan province (eastern edge of Lake Urmia) were identified and investigated.

Progressive research from the point of view of the method in the category of quantitative research and data analysis using, identifying the sources of fine dust production using 6-year statistics (2017-2022), measuring and monitoring the production of dust and wind deposits using the RDD index, as well as measuring the threshold speed and intensity of wind erosion using the wind tunnel device was done.

The share of land use in micro-district centers of the province is 48.8% of agricultural lands, 19% of dried wetlands or lakes, 32.2% of degraded pastures, etc. From the point of view of morphology, micro-rounded centers of the province are about 2.53% of hilly plains and 97.47% of flood plains, etc. The micro dust production center on the eastern edge of Urmia Lake is the most active center in the province, which causes many problems for local residents and neighboring areas. This center of fine dust mainly includes rainfed agricultural lands, abandoned agricultural lands, dried up wetlands or lakes, and degraded pastures.

In East Azarbaijan province, some lands such as plowed agricultural lands, abandoned wet fields, poor pastures, the dry bed of Urmia Lake shore caused by water receding, the dry bed of rivers and seasonal waterways, etc. In case of adverse climatic factors and availability the presence of other environmental conditions can potentially act as sources of fine dust production, but the above-mentioned lands are scattered in East Azerbaijan province and in certain cases and times they are capable of producing fine dust in a considerable amount.