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The shifting frontiers of air pollution emission sources contribute to stagnation or reversal of air quality gains across the United States (US). The frequency and possible duration of Exceptional Events – driven primarily by wildfires and dust storms – have significantly increased in the US over the past decade. Combined with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final rule strengthening primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 by 25%, communities will need to reevaluate domestic and international sources of PM2.5. This study applies the Isolation Forest methodology to Exceptional Event demonstrations to flag and evaluate sources of anomalies in large PM2.5 measurement datasets. Focusing on a decade of hourly PM2.5 data measured in seven regions across Texas from 2012 to 2021 (>3 million data points), we present methods to efficiently flag hourly PM2.5 anomalies with compute times of ~minutes and characterize their spatial impacts as local or (multi-) regional; subsequent evaluation of potential sources of the increase can then be conducted more efficiently in a targeted manner. For a subset of anomalies, we incorporate air mass back trajectories, surface influences, and positive matrix factorization to evaluate potential sources. Our anomaly characterization method separated statistically normal PM2.5 data and enabled differentiation of localized versus larger-scale PM2.5 sources. In addition, our method successfully characterized the Summer 2020 severe Saharan dust intrusions into Texas, as well as the influence of international smoke from Mexico on El Paso's regional air quality. This anomaly flagging and characterization method is promising for assessing the relative importance of sources to anomalies in PM2.5 and other criteria air pollutants for multiple purposes; while this work focuses on its capacity for exceptional event demonstrations, the applicability includes long-term trend analyses from environmental justice analyses of air pollutant exposure to air quality attainment demonstrations. Implications: The shifting frontiers of air pollution emission sources contribute to stagnation or reversal of air quality gains across the United States (US). The frequency and possible duration of Exceptional Events – driven primarily by wildfires and dust storms – have significantly increased in the US over the past decade. Combined with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final rule strengthening primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 by 25%, communities will need to reevaluate domestic and international sources of PM2.5. This study presents a robust methodology to rapidly flag and evaluate sources of anomalies in PM2.5 measurements. This anomaly flagging and characterization method is promising for assessing the relative importance of sources to anomalies in PM2.5 and other criteria air pollutants for multiple purposes; while this work focuses on its capacity for exceptional event demonstrations, the applicability includes long-term trend analyses from environmental justice analyses of air pollutant exposure to air quality attainment demonstrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventing wind erosion and dust storms has always been a major concern in arid and semi-arid areas because of their negative effects on the environment. This study aims to utilize remote sensing and machine learning techniques to model, monitor, and predict the risk of wind erosion in Northeast Iran. Through an examination of relevant studies, a comprehensive review was conducted, leading to the identification of eight remote sensing indicators that exhibited the highest correlation with field data. These indicators were subsequently employed to model the risk of wind erosion in the study area. Various methods including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were employed to carry out the modeling process. The final method utilized a weighted average of the model, and the SDM statistical package was used to combine different approaches to decrease uncertainty when modeling and monitoring wind erosion in the area. The modeling results indicated that in 2008, the RF model performed the best (AUC = 0.92, TSS = 0.82, and Kappa = 0.96), while in 2023, the GBM model showed superior performance (AUC = 0.95, TSS = 0.79, and Kappa = 0.95). Therefore, the utilization of an ensemble model emerged as an effective approach to reduce uncertainty during the modeling process. By employing the ensemble model, the outcomes obtained accurately depicted an elevated intensity of wind erosion in the northeastern regions of the study area by 2023. Furthermore, considering the climatic scenarios and projected land use changes, it is anticipated that wind erosion intensity will experience a 23% increase in the central and southern parts of the study area by 2038. By taking into account the reliable results of the ensemble model, which offers reduced uncertainty, it becomes feasible to implement effective planning, optimal management, and appropriate measures to mitigate the progression of wind erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust emissions from land‐air interaction in arid and semi‐arid regions are crucial for predicting the global dust cycle. However, a comprehensive understanding of the complex physical mechanisms contributing to dust emissions from Gobi surfaces remains elusive. The expansive Gobi Desert, spanning northern China and Mongolia, significantly intensifies sandstorms in East Asia. Although researchers use models to study global dust transport, current models primarily depend on the aerodynamic roughness of the Gobi Desert. They often overlook the particle‐bed collision processes unique to the Gobi bed surface, which differ significantly from those of desert surfaces, thus compromising the accuracy of global dust cycle simulations. In this article, we establish a numerical model for drift sand in the Gobi based on existing theoretical and experimental studies. The model accurately simulates the wind‐blown sand in the Gobi and been used to investigate the saltation structure of sand transport. Simulations reveal an exponential decay of mass concentration with height, with an average attenuation rate of 0.00385 in the Gobi compared to 0.00806 in sandy deserts. The horizontal velocity of saltating particles increases with height following a power law. Through quantitative analysis of this structure, we present a saltation flux formula suitable for the Gobi. Plain Language Summary: Increasing evidence suggests that the dust released from the Gobi also constitutes a primary source of material for dust storm disasters. Current regional and global dust models typically use a dust emission scheme that only considers aerodynamic roughness when simulating Gobi dust emissions. However, compared to the desert surface, the more complex substrates of the Gobi surface, such as gravel and sandy loam, alter the mechanism of dust release. This alteration in mechanism is one of the primary factors contributing to the uncertainty observed in simulation outcomes of dust emission. Moreover, the saltation flux formula is indispensable in the currently commonly used dust emission schemes, such as Shao04 and GOCART AFWA dust emission schemes. It is crucial to elucidate the structure of the near‐surface dust transport and establish a dust saltation flux formula based on this structure in order to enhance the accuracy of dust model simulations and precisely quantify the impact of Gobi desert dust emissions on atmospheric dust concentrations. The findings are expected to provide a theoretical foundation and technical support for improving the accuracy of regional and global‐scale dust model simulations and forecasting dust storm disasters and their disaster prevention and mitigation. Key Points: The numerical model for near‐surface transport of wind‐blown sand in the Gobi had been establishedThe structural characteristics of sand particle transport in proximity to the surface in the Gobi region had been elucidatedThe formula for saltation flux, suitable for simulating dust circulation on large and medium scales had been derived [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Moral Intelligence (MI) as a concept has gained importance Increasing water scarcity as a result of climate change and its coincidence with population growth, economic development, and the resulting rising demand has become an important challenge in most parts of the world. In numerous nations, such as Iran, frequent occurrences of droughts, combined with the extensive utilization of surface and groundwater resources, have resulted in numerous environmental detriments, including a decrease in groundwater levels, land subsidence, deterioration of water quality, and, more recently, the emergence of dust storms due to soil erosion and desertification. In this situation, stakeholders can play an efficient role in water management and the alleviation of water scarcity and its negative environmental externalities in the context of good water governance. Method: This investigation endeavored to examine the functions and importance of individuals or groups with a vested interest in groundwater resources within the Hamedan-Bahar Plain. Additionally, it aimed to evaluate their influence and motivations through the utilization of the power-interest matrix (PIM) and important-performance matrix techniques. A total of 86 people were identified who could and were allowed to be interviewed through the snowball method. Then a 10-point scale questionnaire was used to rate the questions. To examine the power and interest of the stakeholders, the IPM test was carried out using the smart pls.3 software, and the results were classified based on the average values and the overall impact. The results reveal that 20 institutions and agencies have an effective role in the governance of groundwater resources in the Hamedan- Bahar plain. Furthermore, the analysis of the PIM revealed that the most powerful organizations that play the most important role in the management of the groundwater resources of the studied area are the regional water organization, the representatives of the parliament, and the governor, respectively. Results and discussion: Based on the research findings, the governance "power" index of organizations and institutions with power (39.77%) and total impact (0.516) is higher and more effective than the value of benefits with power (36.13%) and total impact (0.48). Accordingly, paying attention to the role and influence of the power of stakeholders will be an important and effective point in the plans and strategies for groundwater resources in the Hamadan-Bahar plain. In the end, strategies are suggested to each stakeholder for better implementation of the programs and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global dust events have become more frequent due to climate change and increased human activity, significantly impacting air quality and human health. Previous studies have mainly focused on determining atmospheric dust pollution levels through atmospheric parameter simulations or AOD values obtained from satellite remote sensing. However, research on the quantitative description of dust intensity and its cross-regional transport characteristics still faces numerous challenges. Therefore, this study utilized Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) satellite Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) imagery, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar, and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) lidar, and other auxiliary data, to conduct three-dimensional spatiotemporal monitoring and a cross-regional transport analysis of two typical dust events in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region of China using four dust intensity indices Infrared Channel Shortwave Dust (Icsd), Dust Detection Index (DDI), dust value (DV), and Dust Strength Index (DSI)) and the HYSPLIT model. We found that among the four indices, DDI was the most suitable for studying dust in the BTH region, with a detection accuracy (POCD) of >88% at all times and reaching a maximum of 96.14%. Both the 2021 and 2023 dust events originated from large-scale deforestation in southern Mongolia and the border area of Inner Mongolia, with dust plumes distributed between 2 and 12 km being transported across regions to the BTH area. Further, when dust aerosols are primarily concentrated below 4 km and PM10 concentrations consistently exceed 600 µg/m3, large dust storms are more likely to occur in the BTH region. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the sources, transport pathways, and environmental impacts of dust aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deserts and semi-desert countries have become increasingly affected by dust storms in recent years. In this research, the effect of the real-time multivariate of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) index on the frequency of dust storms in the west of Iran (Sarpol-E-Zahab, Islamabad Gharb, Kermanshah, and Kangavar stations located in Kermanshah province) during February-July for the period 1987-2022 and the frequency percentage of this index for Phases 7-2 (7, 8, 2 and 1) and Phases 3-6 (3, 4, 5 and 6) were investigated. The results of the analysis of the relationship between the MJO and dust storms showed that between 57 and 75% of dust storms occurred in phases 7-2 of the MJO and 25 to 42% in phases 3-6. Phases 7-2 of the MJO have a higher percentage of dust storms than phases 3-6. According to the results of the Mann-Whitney test, the displacement of phases 7-2 and phases 3-6 of the MJO have significantly led to dust storms at the Kermanshah and Kangavar stations. Due to the suitability of the HYSPLIT model for tracking dust storms, the paths of dust entering Kermanshah province were investigated with this model. Tracking the paths of dust entering Kermanshah province with the HYSPLIT model and analyzing the wind speed and direction maps of 850 hPa level indicate an increase in the speed of westerly winds. The increase in the speed of westerly winds and the decrease in soil moisture in phases 7-2 and 3-6 have caused the movement of dust particles from Iraq, eastern parts of Syria, and Khuzestan province to the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases in Taiwan, posing a significant public health challenge. In recent years, outdoor air pollution has become an increasingly critical global health issue. Asian Dust Storms (ADS) are known to exacerbate various health conditions due to elevated levels of particulate matter and other pollutants. However, the relationship between ADS and knee OA remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the association between ADS occurrences and knee OA outpatient visits from January 2006 to December 2012, aiming to understand the potential health impacts of dust storms on OA patients. Using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (TEPA), and the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau, we conducted a time-series analysis employing the autoregressive moving average with exogenous variables (ARMAX) model. This approach accounted for daily outpatient visits related to knee OA, ADS events, and various environmental and meteorological factors. The results revealed a significant increase in knee OA outpatient visits on days immediately following ADS events, with peaks observed one to two days after the event. This increase was most pronounced among females, individuals aged 61 and above, and residents in the western regions. The study demonstrates an association between ADS and increased knee OA outpatient visits, highlighting the need for public health strategies to mitigate the health impacts of dust storms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling and observational techniques are pivotal in aerosol research, yet each approach exhibits inherent limitations. Aerosol observation is constrained by its limited spatial and temporal coverage compared to models. On the other hand, models tend to possess higher uncertainties and biases compared to observations. Aerosol data assimilation has gained popularity as it combines the advantages of both methods. Despite numerous studies in this domain, few have addressed the challenges faced in assimilating aerosol data with significant differences in magnitude and degree of freedom between the model state and observations, especially in the vertical direction. These challenges can lead to the preservation or even exacerbation of structural inaccuracies within the assimilation process. This study investigates the sensitivity of dust aerosol data assimilation to the vertical structure of the aerosol profile. We assimilate a variety of dust observations, encompassing ground-based particulate matter (PM10) measurements and satellite-derived dust optical depth (DOD) data, using the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF). The assimilation process is elucidated, detailing the assimilation of raw ground-based and satellite-based observations for an optimized three-dimensional (3D) posterior state. To demonstrate the impact of accurate versus erroneous prior aerosol vertical profiles on the assimilation result, we select three cases of super dust storms for analysis. Our findings reveal that the assimilation of ground observations would optimize the dust field at the ground in general. However, the vertical structure presents a more complex challenge. When the prior profile accurately reflects the true vertical structure, the assimilation process can successfully preserve this structure. Conversely, if the prior profile introduces an incorrect structure, the assimilation can significantly deteriorate the integrity of the aerosol profile. This is also found in the assimilation of DOD, which exhibits a comparable pattern in its sensitivity to the initial aerosol profile's accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive study analyzed aerosol products from six low-Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) sensors. LEO sensors like the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and VIsible InfraRed Suite (VIIRS) provide one to two daily global measurements, while GEO sensors (Advanced Himawari Imager: AHI, Advanced Baseline Imager: ABI) offer high-frequency data (∼ 10 min) over specific regions. The combination of LEO and GEO capabilities offers expanded coverage of the global aerosol system if aerosol retrievals are applied consistently across all sensors and packaged in an easy-to-use product. The Dark Target aerosol retrieval algorithm was applied to the six sensors, and the resulting Level 2 aerosol optical depth (AOD) products were gridded and merged into a Level 3 quarter-degree latitude–longitude grid with a 30 min temporal resolution, providing the necessary consistency and packaging. Validation of this packaged Level 3 AOD product against Aerosol Robotics NETwork (AERONET) measurements across global locations showcased the merged product's robustness with a correlation coefficient of 0.83, revealing a global mean bias of approximately ±0.05 , with 65.5 % of retrievals falling within an expected uncertainty range, underlining the reliability of the dataset. The new gridded Level 3 dataset significantly improved daily global coverage to nearly 45 %, overcoming the limitations of individual sensors, which typically range from 12 % to 25 %. Furthermore, this merged dataset approximates the diurnal cycle of AOD observed by AERONET, thus offering insights into diurnal signatures retrieved elsewhere. The resulting dataset's high spatiotemporal resolution and improved global coverage, especially in regions covered by GEO sensors (Americas and Asia), make it a valuable tool for diverse applications. Tracking aerosol transport from phenomena like wildfires and dust storms is gaining precision, enabling enhanced air quality forecasting and hindcasting. Additionally, the study positions the merged dataset as a significant asset for evaluating and intercomparing regional or global model simulations, which was previously unattainable in such a gridded format. The dataset and fusion framework layout in this study have the potential to include data from recently (future) launched other GEO (FCI, AMI) and LEO (PACE, VIIRS-JPSS) sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study is the first to illuminate a previously underexplored dimension in the intricate interplay between environmental factors, specifically dust storms (DSs), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outcomes. An Auto Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) time-series estimation model was employed to analyze rheumatoid arthritis outpatient visits, dust storms, air pollution, and meteorology data in Taiwan from 2006 to 2012. The results show that females are three times more likely to experience RA-related issues and seek medical attention. Percentage analysis revealed a 10–15% increase in daily RA outpatient visits on post-event days 1 and 2 compared to non-DS days. However, the time-series estimation indicated a delayed and statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in RA outpatient visits on post-event day 1 for males but not females. Additionally, a significant increase in RA outpatient visits (p < 0.05) was observed on post-event day 1 among individuals aged 61 and above. Environmental factors such as temperature and SO2 showed strong significance across all genders and age groups (p < 0.001). The findings highlight distinct gender and age disparities regarding the impacts of DS on RA outpatient visits, emphasizing the heightened sensitivity of males to environmental pollutants and the vulnerability of the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research efforts have revealed that the Martian dust storms can perturb the upper atmospheric condition and as a consequence, enhance plasma density and photoelectron flux in the ionosphere. However, previous observational studies of the Martian dust storm impacts have been restricted to regions below 400 km, which limits our understanding of the Martian dust storm effects in the upper ionosphere and magnetosphere. Here, based on the suprathermal electron measurements made by the Solar Wind Electron Analyzer onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, we identify with an automatic procedure the occurrences of all photoelectron boundary (PEB) crossings at solar zenith angle below 120° (with a dust-free median altitude of about 600 km). Using the dayside PEB as a proxy of the upper ionospheric and magnetospheric condition, we analyze the variations of the PEB altitude during the 2018 global dust storm (GDS) of Mars Year 34 (MY34) and compare them with the period in MY33 when there was no global dust storm. We conclude that the column dust optical depth (CDOD) emerges as one of the main driving factors for PEB altitude variations during the GDS. Our analysis implies that the GDS can affect the Martian upper atmosphere and ionosphere over considerable distances and extended time scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the distribution characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in typical desert agricultural regions, with a focus on the agricultural areas surrounding the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang, China. We collected samples of total suspended particulate matter (TSP), atmospheric deposition, and atmospheric dust using both active and passive collection methods. The chemical composition, particle size, shape, and color of atmospheric microplastics were examined using a stereomicroscope and a Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometer to analyze their characteristics. The results showed that the primary chemical compositions of microplastics included polypropylene (PP), polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylmethacrylate, and cellophane. Particle sizes were mainly within the range of 0 to 1000 μm. Fibrous microplastics constituted the majority of the TSP and atmospheric deposition, whereas film‐like microplastics constituted the largest proportion of atmospheric dustfall. The deposition flux of atmospheric microplastics in the first quarter was measured at 103.21 ± 22.12 particles/m2/day, which was lower than that observed in conventional agricultural areas. The abundance of microplastics in atmospheric dustfall was found to be 1.36 particles/g. The proportion of PP microplastics in atmospheric dustfall can be as high as 35%. Through a comparison of microplastic content in TSP during dust storms and under normal weather conditions, it was found that dust storms can lead to an increase in the abundance of microplastics within the atmospheric TSP. The present study provides a scientific basis for understanding the distribution of atmospheric microplastics in typical desert agricultural regions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1982–1995. © 2024 SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms and dry haze are an unfavorable meteorological factor for the cities of the Aral Sea Region. The mean annual number of days with haze in Central Asian cities ranges from 10 to 20. Dust makes poorer the aspect of areas, but its impact on urban planning has been incompletely studied and the content of fine dust particles in the air of cities has not been monitored. The Afghan wind (garmsil: fiery, hot, dry wind with dust), which attracts particular attention, is a dust storm that suddenly starts in the deserts of Afghanistan and on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea (it is now called Aralkum (the Turkish kum signifies sand)). This is a real salt desert, containing pesticides and chemicals dangerous for human health. They penetrated rivers as fertilizers used by people and then flowed into the sea. They now cause significant damage to the cities and to the economy of Central Asian countries. Wind transport of dust from natural sources and, as a result, the dustiness of the urban environment are analyzed in this article. This problem is particularly urgent for most large cities in Central Asia, but has not been studied sufficiently. The dust factor is not sufficiently taken into account, when making urban planning decisions even in areas with intensive wind and dust activity, such as the Aral Sea Region, where it is related to natural and climatic conditions. More and more cool agricultural lands are now destroyed and used for building construction in many cities, which may exert a strong effect on the quality of life in the next few years. Not long ago, dustiness was considered only as a factor that creates uncomfortable conditions, but today, it is associated with morbidity and mortality of the population. A high dust content in the air harms landscaped areas, along highways and streets in particular. The protection of buildings from direct sunlight and dust consists in the use of sun protection devices, panels, and ventilated facades. One of the modern trends in architecture consists in the introduction of the technology of kinetic facades, which are formed of elements of different shapes and materials. When the proposed methods are implemented, there is a real opportunity to improve the quality of atmospheric air in cities located in complicated landscape conditions, which will directly affect the improvement of human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of sand and dust storms (SDS) in Iran has raised many concerns about the possibility of environmental and public health hazards caused by dust particles and pollutants existed in these particles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of contamination of surface soil, river sediments, and roadside deposits with radioactive materials, especially depleted uranium (DU) in the areas affected by SDS. The radioactive activity of the samples was measured by gamma spectroscopy with a high-purity germanium detector. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40 K were 11.19, 8.05, and 76.05 Bq/kg. The average ratio of 238U/235U was 89 indicating the possibility of the presence of DU in the soil samples. The average values of Rm (the share of 235U in total uranium) and DUm were 0.55% (lower than natural uranium, 0.72) and 33% (indicating the presence of 33% DU on average in the samples). Based on 238U/226Ra activity, two samples (S11 and S12) should be considered as DU-contaminated. Almost the obtained results for all radiological risk indices showed lower values than the world average and the possibility of creating a low risk for working people, residents, visitors, and travelers passing through these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining produces approximately 14 billion metric tons of tailings annually, mainly deposited into surface impoundments as a slurry of water and silt-sized materials. An environmental problem during dry summers is dust emissions generated during high winds. However, large dust storms can also develop during cold weather, particularly in the fall and spring. During initial freezing periods, typically at night, the surface of the tailing becomes frozen. In the morning, as temperatures rise above freezing, the frozen tailing surface can rapidly sublimate under certain atmospheric conditions, generating a layer of desiccated tailings overlying frozen tailings. The dried surface tailings become susceptible to wind erosion and large-scale dust storms. The rapid sublimation of the mine tailings, however, is poorly understood. This research develops methods to simulate cold weather dusting from a mine tailings impoundment in a laboratory. The dust emissions and strength of tailings samples are characterized using a wind tunnel and ball drop testing, respectively. These laboratory methods can be used in research to understand better the coupled phenomena of ice lens generation, sublimation, and dust generation for fine-grained sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the potential of some of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) (Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar (QA), Bahrain (BH), Oman (OM)), Yemen (YE), Iraq (IQ), and Jordan (JO) to use their abundant solar radiation to generate electricity through PV technology. The study is structured to help decision-makers access the necessary data related to the status of solar-energy infrastructure and power production in the study region. The study investigates current efforts to establish PV technology and the challenges hindering the development of this technology. These efforts and challenges are then benchmarked against their status in Australia, which has climate and landscape conditions similar to those of the countries in the study region. It was found that Australia is successfully adopting solar energy in households and industrial locations despite its historical reliance on fossil fuels for energy production. This offers a potential avenue for replicating the Australian model of PV development in the study region. This work also addresses the effect of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on the performance of the PV panels. Meanwhile, it also proposes a conceptual model to help local governments and decision-makers in adopting solar-energy projects in the study region. Additionally, a preliminary carbon-footprint analysis of avoided emissions from PV energy utilization compared to national grid intensity was performed for each country. Findings show that the countries in the study region have great potential for using solar energy to gradually replace fossil fuels and protect the environment. It is observed that more hours of daylight and clear-to-scattered cloud coverage help increase solar irradiance near the ground all year around. Dust and aerosol loadings, however, were found to greatly reduce solar irradiance over the GCC area, especially during large dust events. Despite the high potential for harvesting solar energy in the study region, only a handful of PV plants and infrastructural facilities have been established, mostly in the KSA, the UAE, and Jordan. It was found that there is a critical need to put in place regulations, policies, and near-future vision to support solar energy generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production.

In this study, prominent dust source areas are identified along with their plume extent using high temporal frequency satellite observations. Hourly dust plume observations of the Dust Belt from geostationary‐orbit satellites are analyzed for the 2017‐12–2022‐11 period. To identify dust source areas and their extents, we back‐track plumes to their source, assessing source areas in terms of emission frequency, contribution, and plume extent patterns. This method advances over traditional source allocation techniques that rely on polar‐orbiting satellites based on a few daily passes and meteorological wind fields for backtracking. Our findings indicate that Boreal summer is the most intense season for most sources, except in the Southern Sahara, which experiences winterly winds. Our analysis also reveals significant contributions from regions within the Sahara that experience expansive but infrequent dust storms, highlighting the importance of considering both frequency and magnitude in understanding dust emissions. Plain Language Summary: This study focuses on the role of mineral dust, a significant climate constituent originating mainly from arid regions. Identifying where dust comes from and where it goes is essential for understanding how it affects the climate. To do so, we employ high temporal frequency satellite data to backtrack dust plumes to their sources, revealing key dust‐emitting regions and their seasonal variations. We also quantify each source area's frequency and magnitude of emissions and the spatial distribution of emanating dust plumes. Our findings show that summer is the peak season for most areas, except for the strongest dust sources, located in Southern Sahara, which peak in winter driven by seasonal winds. Additionally, some Saharan source areas exhibit severe storms but have been under‐emphasized because they were measured by the frequency of their storms. Key Points: High‐temporal‐resolution images from geostationary‐orbit satellites enable precise back‐tracking of dust source areasDust source areas are analyzed in terms of their emission frequency, contribution to the regional atmosphere, and corresponding plume extentSummer is the peak dust emission season for most sources in West Asia and Sahara and ephemeral lake beds are active during the dry season [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sand‐dust weather and sand‐dust storms have become a serious environmental disaster worldwide. It is an important challenge to develop technologies for desert sand solidification in order to prevent and control sand‐dust weather. The biomineralization technology for solidifying desert sands has been a novel method for reinforced soils in recent years. The biomineralization solidification sand field tests are completed at the Wuma Highway solidification section in the Tengger Desert. The superiority of the biomineralization for solidifying sands is verified by measuring the water storage capacity of different reinforcement zones including bare sand zone, plant zone, biomineralization solidifying sand zone, and biomineralization combined plant solidifying sand zone. Simultaneously, the molecular dynamics calculation analysis is used to verify the role of biomineralization solidifying sands in preventing sand‐dust storms. All results demonstrate that the biomineralization solidification sand method is effective for controlling and preventing sandstorm disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, in China, during the period of transition between spring and summer, the combination of sandstorms and ozone (O3) pollution has posed a significant challenge to the strategy of coordinated control of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) and O3. On the one hand, the dust invasion brings many primary aerosols and causes a large range of transboundary transport. On the other hand, the high concentration of aerosol causes a severe disturbance to the distribution of O3. Traditionally, high-resolution assessments of the spatial distribution of aerosols and O3 can be carried out using LiDAR technology. However, the negligence of the influence of aerosols in the process of O3 retrieval in traditional differential absorption lidar (DIAL) leads to an error in the accuracy of ozone concentration. Especially when dust transit occurs, the errors become bigger. In this study, a self-customized four-wavelength differential-absorption LiDAR system was used to synchronously obtain the accurate vertical distributions of ozone and high-concentration aerosol. The wavelength index of concentrated aerosol was inverted and applied to the differential equation framework for O3 calculation. This novel approach to retrieving the vertical profile of O3 was proposed and verified by applying it to a dust pollution event that occurred from April to May 2021 in Anyang City Henan Province, which is located in Northern China. It was found that the extinction coefficient of aerosol reached 2.5 km−1 during the dust period, and O3 was mainly distributed between 500 m and 1500 m. The O3 error exceeded over 10% arising from the high-concentration aerosol below 1.5 km during the dust storm event. By employing the inversion algorithm while considering the aerosol effects, the ozone concentration error was improved by over 10% compared with the error recorded without considering the aerosol influence especially in dust events. Through this study, it was found that the algorithm could effectively realize the synchronous and accurate inversion of high-concentration aerosols and O3 and can provide key technical support for air pollution control in China in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desiccation of the Aral Sea has resulted in the emergence of vast saline and flat terrains, jeopardizing human health and agricultural activities because of sand and dust storms. Vegetation, mainly indigenous Haloxylon species, has been introduced to ameliorate the soil. As a critical indicator of rehabilitation, the physicochemical properties of soil after the introduction of vegetation remain poorly understood. This study examined (1) the changes in topsoil properties after vegetation establishment based on a 30‐year chronosequence and employed (2) site comparisons of topsoil properties between two cases of natural versus introduced vegetation on a dried Aral Sea bed. Twelve paired areas that were naturally or artificially vegetated during 1990, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2013, and 2017 were selected for examination. Irrespective of vegetation type, increases in organic matter and nutrients (TOC >90%, TN >143%, and P2O5 >23%) were detected in the surface soil (0–10 cm) along the 30‐year chronosequence. In addition, decreases in ECe (92% and 69%), CEC (41% and 11%), Ca2+ (38% and 12%), and TIC (81% and 11%) were observed in both natural and introduced vegetation, respectively. The introduced vegetation was associated with a slightly greater accumulation of soil K+ and TN than the natural vegetation. Our results indicate vegetation‐derived nutrient and organic matter accumulation as well as the possible removal of salts by root exudates in the surface soil. Overall, vegetation contributed to soil amelioration, with similar effects observed at naturally and artificially vegetated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean region contains some of the areas with the highest urban density in the world, and these areas keep expanding, making this region a "hotspot" of climate change. Life in the Mediterranean unfolds predominantly outdoors throughout the year, exposing its inhabitants to an evolving climate that is progressively harsher and punctuated by increasingly frequent extreme weather events. More and more people are going to be exposed to severe heat waves, droughts, water shortage, dust storms, forest fires and poor air quality on the one hand, and torrential rains and floods on the other hand. The urban heat island further increases thermal stress of city dwellers and plays a key role in citizens' health and well‐being. In this exhaustive review, based on state‐of‐the‐art studies we delve into the realm of climate change and extreme weather phenomena as they intersect with urban populations in Mediterranean cities, both in the present and in the foreseeable future. Our focus lies on identifying knowledge gaps, inconsistencies in observed climatic hazards and shortcomings in assessing the associated risks and their societal and environmental ramifications. Moreover, we undertake a comprehensive survey of future predictions exploring the variables thermal stress, air pollution, air quality and characteristics of the hydro‐climatic systems, that is, droughts, fires and floods. Yet, critical knowledge gaps persist in understanding the science, the coping mechanisms, the strategies for preparedness and adaptation and the intricate interplay between these facets and societal dynamics. The developing countries in the Mediterranean region stand exceptionally vulnerable. It is imperative for more affluent nations to share their expertise and extend assistance to less developed counterparts, aiding them in navigating climate‐related challenges, devising adaptive strategies and facilitating their implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To measure the long-range transport of PCDD/Fs, a background sampling site at Mt. Lulin station (Taiwan) was selected based on meteorological information and its location relative to burning events in Southeast Asia. During regular sampling periods, a higher concentration of PCDD/Fs was recorded in 2008 at Mt. Lulin station during La Niña events, with levels reaching 390 fg I-TEQ/m3. In contrast, a higher concentration of 483 fg I-TEQ/m3 was observed in 2013 during biomass burning events. This indicates that La Niña affects the ambient PCDD/F concentrations. The ratio of ΣPCDD/ΣPCDF was 0.59, suggesting significant long-range transport contributions from 2007 to 2023. From 2007 to 2015, the predominant species was 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF, accounting for 25.3 to 39.6% of the total PCDD/Fs. From 2018 onward, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDD became more dominant, accounting for 15.0 to 27.1%. According to the results from the receptor model PMF (n = 150), the sources of PCDD/Fs were identified as dust storms and monsoon events (19.3%), anthropogenic activity (28.5%), and biomass burning events (52.2%). The PSCF values higher than 0.7 highlighted potential PCDD/F emission source regions for Mt. Lulin during biomass burning events, indicating high PSCF values in southern Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulence in the atmospheric surface layer, especially in deserts and semi-arid regions, significantly affects sand movement. In unstable stratification, turbulence exhibits complex intermittency, complicating its impact on saltation. This study uses wavelet transform analysis to examine the effects of turbulence intermittency in unstable stratification on saltation. Our analysis reveals that in unstable stratification, the energy distribution of turbulence is more dispersed, the intermittent characteristics are more significant, and the intermittent burst duration of streamwise turbulence is longer, while the vertical intermittent burst duration is shorter. The fitting formulas of the energy ratio and stratification stability of the streamwise wind speed, vertical wind speed, and temperature at different frequencies are given. In addition, there is a complex nonlinear relationship between stratification stability and friction velocity on saltation. In unstable stratification, the critical wind speed required for saltation is higher than that of near-neutral, and the jumping speed and horizontal transport are weakened. Moreover, the coherence between wind speed and saltation flux increases significantly at low frequency with the increase in instability, indicating that large-scale motion plays a key role in saltation under these conditions. The more unstable the stratification is, the more obvious the phase difference fluctuation of the low frequency part is, and the more unfavorable the formation of stable saltation sand conditions. This study reveals the turbulence intermittently and its complex effects on sand particle movement in unstable stratification, which is of great significance for predicting and controlling dust storms, land desertification, and soil erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The current state of research on Martian ISRU-based binder systems is shown and summarized. • The recommended research directions for Martian ISRU-based binders are described. • Future studies while being subjected to the simulated harsh Martian environment are recommended. The harsh environmental conditions on Mars require building materials that are highly resilient. The cost of transporting binder ingredients for construction materials to Mars is very high. In-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) of Martian resources can help minimise the transportation costs. This review discusses the proposed direction of future investigations to achieve high resiliency and minimal cost for Martian ISRU-based binders. The Martian ISRU-based binders can be bio-based, magnesium-based, polymer-based, geopolymer-based, metal-based or sulphur-based. The review focuses strictly on studies related to the investigation of binder systems produced by utilising simulated in-situ Martian resources. It is divided into sections based on the characteristics of the binder system. Important properties that are investigated include rheological properties, mechanical properties, radiation-shielding properties, and abrasion resistance. The recommended research directions for each Martian ISRU-based binder and other future works related to the key properties are described at the end of this manuscript. This review provides an overview of the potential directions of future research and strongly advocates for additional studies that simulate the behaviour of potential Martian ISRU-based binder systems for use in construction applications in the harsh environment of Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigated the combined effect of visibility and accumulated sand on drivers' avoidance performance during sand and dust storms. • Analysed drivers' lateral avoidance process from three stages: perception, decision-making, and maneuver. • Found a significant decrease in lateral avoidance percentage only when visibility dropped below 100 m. • Identified that reduced visibility delays drivers' perception but insignificantly affects maximum lateral acceleration. Sand and dust storms (SDS) are characterized by their instantaneous and abrupt characteristics, and the accompanying, often quick, accumulation of aeolian sand on road surfaces contributes to increased driving risks on expressways. We investigated the combined effect of visibility conditions and accumulated sand on drivers' avoidance performance. We utilized a driving simulator to simulate SDS events and conducted tests across six different visibility conditions using 45 drivers. We analyzed the drivers' control of the vehicle's speed based on longitudinal speed and acceleration in test road segments defined as Clear, Transition, and SDS. We divided the drivers' risk avoidance maneuvers on sand-covered road segments into two strategies, lane-keeping and lateral avoidance, with a focus on the latter. We divided the drivers' lateral avoidance process into three stages: perception, decision-making, and maneuver. Key performance indicators were selected to analyze the drivers' performance in terms of their lateral and longitudinal control of the vehicle. The findings suggest that drivers reduce their speed to compensate for the limited field of view during SDS events. Lower visibility corresponds to a greater distance required for drivers to reach a relatively stable driving state and leads to higher standard deviation values for the speeds. The coupled effect is reflected mainly in the percentage of lateral avoidance maneuvers. When the visibility was 150 m or above, more than 60 % of drivers in this study chose lateral avoidance over lane-keeping, with no significant difference between visibility conditions. Only when the visibility dropped to 100 m or below did the percentage of lateral avoidance instances significantly decrease. In SDS environments, light and visibility conditions are poor and a thin layer of sand is spread across the road surface. Even under relatively good visibility conditions, a thin layer of accumulated sand is difficult to discern until the driver is relatively close to sand-covered road segments. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of driving avoidance behavior under SDS conditions. The findings can contribute to proactive intervention strategies for driving during SDS and offer theoretical insights for developing driving safety assistance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic absorption of solar radiation generates oscillations in atmospheric fields. These oscillations are called atmospheric or thermal tides, which are furthermore modified by topography and surface properties. This leads to a complex mix of sun‐synchronous and non‐sun‐synchronous tides that propagate around the planet eastward and westward. This study focuses on analyzing the ter‐diurnal component (period of 8 hr) from surface pressure observations by Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), InSight, Viking Lander (VL) 1, and VL2. General Circulation Model (GCM) results are used to provide a global context for interpreting the observed ter‐diurnal tide properties. MSL and InSight have a clear and similar seasonal cycle, with local amplitude peaks at around solar longitude (Ls) 60°, Ls 130°, and Ls 320°. The amplitude peak at Ls 320° is related to the annual dust storm, while the Ls 230° dust storm is not detected by either platforms. During global dust storms, MSL, VL1, and VL2 detect their highest amplitudes. The GCM predicts the weakest amplitudes at the equinoxes, while the strongest ones are predicted in summer for both hemispheres. GCM amplitudes tend to differ from the observations but match slightly better around the aphelion season. During this time, model results suggest that the two most prominent modes are the sun‐synchronous ter‐diurnal tide and an eastward propagating resonantly enhanced Kelvin wave. Simulations with and without the effect of radiative heating by water ice clouds indicate the clouds may play a significant role in forcing the ter‐diurnal tide during northern hemisphere summer season. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric pressure is a crucial meteorological parameter, since many weather phenomena on Mars, such as the condensation and sublimation of the seasonal polar caps, global scale atmospheric tides, and local turbulent flows, are associated with changes in surface pressure. On a diurnal time scale, atmospheric tides dominate surface pressure daily variations in the Martian tropics. They are generated by the diurnally varying solar radiation and additionally modified by topography, surface properties, and atmospheric absorbers. Here, we use pressure observations from Mars Science Laboratory, InSight, Viking lander 1, and 2 to characterize the Martian atmospheric tide that has a period of 8 hr, known as the ter‐diurnal tide, and compare results with model simulations. The results show that the Mars Science Laboratory and InSight observe similar seasonal cycles for the amplitude and phase of the ter‐diurnal tide. In addition, both these platforms react similarly to atmospheric dust content. The Viking landers and Mars Science Laboratory observe their highest amplitudes during the global dust storms. We find that modeled amplitudes are the strongest during summertime for both hemispheres and typically lower than those observed throughout the year. Moreover, the ter‐diurnal tide may be significantly affected by water ice clouds. Key Points: We analyze the ter‐diurnal atmospheric tide from pressure observations at four surface stations and compare them with model predictionsModel and observations suggest a clear wavenumber 6 amplitude and phase patterns in longitude at northern hemisphere (NH) summerThis study suggests the ter‐diurnal component's sensitivity to water ice clouds and a resonantly enhanced Kelvin wave near the NH summer solstice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) in forecasting a mega Asian Dust Storm (ADS) event that occurred over South Korea on March 28–29, 2021. We specifically evaluated a combination of five dust emission schemes and four land surface schemes, which are crucial for predicting ADSs. Using in-situ and remote sensing data, we assessed surface meteorological and air quality variables, including 2 m temperature, 2 m relative humidity, 10 m wind speed, particulate matter 10 (PM10), and aerosol optical depth (AOD) over South Korea. Our results indicate that prediction of surface meteorological variables is more influenced by the land surface scheme than by the dust emission scheme—generally showing good performance when dust emission schemes are combined with the Noah land surface model with Multiple Parameterization options (Noah-MP). In contrast, prediction of air quality variables, including PM10 and AOD, is strongly affected by the dust emission schemes, which is directly related to the generation and amount of dust through interaction with surface properties. Among the total of 20 available scheme combinations, the University of Cologne 2004 combined with the Community Land Model version 4.0 (UoC04-CLM4) showed the best performance, closely followed by the University of Cologne 2001 combined with CLM4 (UoC01-CLM4). UoC04-CLM4 outperformed the other scheme combinations by reducing the root mean square errors of PM10 up to 29.6 %. However, both UoC04-CLM4 and UoC01-CLM4 simulated values closest to the MODIS AOD but tended to overestimate the AOD in some regions during the origination and transportation processes. In contrast, other scheme combinations significantly underestimated the AOD throughout the entire simulation process of ADSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms play a crucial role in the climate system and the space environment of Mars, significantly impacting human exploration activities on the planet. The Martian dust storms exhibit significant regional, seasonal and interannual variations due to various controlling factors such as large-scale atmospheric circulation, varying solar radiation forcing, and Martial orbital and rotational motions and their coupling to the atmospheric dynamics. This paper aims to review current understandings of Martian dust storms. This paper begins by elucidating the basic properties of dust storms, their driving mechanisms, and their impacts on atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric electric property, space environment, topography, and Mars explorations. The paper then introduces the observation methods on different platforms, including orbiters and landers/rovers, along with datasets constructed based on these historical observations of Martian dust storms. Finally, we propose dust storm monitoring and predicting for the upcoming Chinese Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission. It concludes by depicting the future research topics aimed at systematically understanding Martian dust storms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous years, most regions of the Middle East suffered from frequent dust storms, Iraq at the top of that where Iraq was classified as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change according to the Paris Climate Agreement; the frequent dust storms are considered the most prominent effects of climate change, which are a result of lack of rain and drought, and thus desertification and desertification. The storms appear when the winds blow. This research reviews using of space data, MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, satellite images), and its two platforms, Terra and Aqua, to monitor storms movement and determine the starting point source using the PCA (Principal Component Analysis algorithm) in ENVI and sub-software MATLAB for (MOD09GA) and (MYD09GA) that represents the reflectivity daily monitoring, the first layer from HDF file of MODIS data red band, 620-670 nm, was used. The period was studied in research in May of 2022 with the kernel of PCA containing five bands represented by the day of the storm and two days before and after the storm for the study area located Coordinates: 35.0468, 43.0305. The results determined that the source of dust storms are cross-border storms that are not local in origin; the estimated area of the storm that covered large regions of Iraq by (351353.45) km² for 2022-5-5, (308024.9.km²) for the day 2022-5-16 and with an estimated area (326933.35 km²) for the day 2022-5-23. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, dried lake beds constitute the largest source of saline dust storms, with serious environmental and health issues in the surrounding areas. In this study, we examined the spatial–temporal distribution of monthly and annual dust events of varying intensity (dust in suspension, blowing dust, dust storms) in the vicinity of the desiccated Urmia Lake in northwestern (NW) Iran, based on horizontal visibility data during 2009–2022. Dust in suspension, blowing dust and dust storm events exhibited different monthly patterns, with higher frequencies between March and October, especially in the southern and eastern parts of the Urmia Basin. Furthermore, the intra-annual variations in aerosol optical depth at 500 nm (AOD550) and Ångström exponent at 412/470 nm (AE) were investigated using Terra/Aqua MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data over the Urmia Lake Basin (36–39°N, 44–47°E). Monthly distributions of potential coarse aerosol (AE < 1) sources affecting the lower troposphere over the Urmia Basin were reconstructed, synergizing Terra/Aqua MODIS AOD550 for AE < 1 values and HYSPLIT_4 backward trajectories. The reconstructed monthly patterns of the potential sources were compared with the monthly spatial distribution of Terra MODIS AOD550 in the Middle East and Central Asia (20–70°E, 20–50°N). The results showed that deserts in the Middle East and the Aral–Caspian arid region (ACAR) mostly contribute to dust aerosol load over the Urmia Lake region, exhibiting higher frequency in spring and early summer. Local dust sources from dried lake beds further contribute to the dust AOD, especially in the western part of the Urmia Basin during March and April. The modeling (DREAM8-NMME-MACC) results revealed high concentrations of near-surface dust concentrations, which may have health effects on the local population, while distant sources from the Middle East are the main controlling factors to aerosol loading over the Urmia Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are an important part of the atmospheric ecosystem yet an underexplored group. Airborne pathogenic fungi are the root cause of hypersensitive and allergenic states highly prevalent in Kuwait. Frequent dust storms in the region carry them further into the urban areas, posing an occupational health hazard. The fungal population associated with the respirable (more than 2.5 µm) and inhalable (2.5 µm and less) fractions of aerosols is negligibly explored and warrants comprehensive profiling to pinpoint tAhe health implications. For the present investigation, aerosol was collected using a high-volume air sampler coupled with a six-stage cascade impactor (Tisch Environmental, Inc) at a rate of 566 L min−1. The samples were lysed, DNA was extracted, and the internal transcribed regions were sequenced through targeted amplicon sequencing. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Gleotinia and Cryptococcus were recorded in all the size fractions with mean relative abundances (RA%) of 17.5%, 12.9%, 12.9%, 4.85%, 4.08%, 2.77%, and 2.51%, respectively. A weak community structure was associated with each size fraction (ANOSIM r2 = 0.11; p > 0.05). The Shannon and Simpson indices also varied among the respirable and inhalable aerosols. About 24 genera were significantly differentially abundant, as described through the Wilcoxon rank sum test (p < 0.05). The fungal microbiome existed as a complex lattice of networks exhibiting both positive and negative correlations and were involved in 428 functions. All the predominant genera were pathogenic, hence, their presence in inhalable fractions raises concerns and poses an occupational exposure risk to both human and non-human biota. Moreover, long-range transport of these fungi to urban locations is undesirable yet plausible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taklamakan Desert (TD) has been characterized by numerous heatwaves and dust storms, leading to negative effects on societies and ecosystems at regional and global scales. However, the association between heatwaves and dust storms is poorly known. In this study, we describe the association between heatwaves and dust events and propose a mechanism for such compound events in the TD. The results show that, from 1993 to 2022, the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in the TD have increased at a rate of 0.21 days year−1 and 0.02°C year−1, respectively. More than 40% of heatwaves existed with dust events, which significantly lagged behind heatwaves. Mechanically, the higher the air temperature, the hotter and drier the soil, leading to more dust emissions in the TD. In high-occurrence heatwave years, a large-scale wave train of "cyclone-anticyclone-cyclone" in the northwest-southeast direction was found, with the anticyclone of which hovered over the TD region. The anomalous anticyclones favored the formation and maintenance of heatwaves, and subsequent anomalous cyclones in the wave train triggered strong dust events followed by heatwaves. With climate warming, the compound events of heatwave and dust storm are becoming bigger hazards threatening the socioeconomic and ecological security in the TD, the profound study of which is critical to understanding regional extreme responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a 400 Gbps free space optics (FSO) system to meet the expected surge in the demand for data traffic. The proposed system is based on using 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) signals in addition to polarization division multiplexing and orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing schemes. To reduce spectrum usage, only a single wavelength of 1550 nm is used. A 400 Gbps is transmitted over two polarization states and eight OAM beams. The signal on each polarization carries the data of four different OAM beams ( LG 0 0 , LG 15 0 , LG 40 0 , and LG 80 0 ). The performance of the proposed model is examined under the influence of light haze, medium haze, heavy haze, low fog, medium fog, heavy fog, wet Snowfall, dry snowfall, light dust storms, medium dust storms, and heavy dust storms. The maximum transmission range and the Bit Error Rate (BER) are used for evaluating the system performance. The simulation results reported the longest FSO link with ranges from 800 to 1475 m under haze conditions. A slight decrease in these ranges is achieved under fog conditions (ranges from 450 to 859 m). The FSO highest attenuation is experienced for HDS case, which results in the shortest range of 73 m. These ranges are calculated at BER Forward Error Correction limit of 3.8 × 10–3. Subsequently, the proposed system can be used for the next 6G applications due to its simplicity in design and high transmission capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deciphering how modern precipitation patterns became established in monsoon‐dominated East Asia and the arid interior Asia is crucial for predicting future precipitation trends under accelerated global warming and increased climate extremes. However, this effort is hindered by a scarcity of quantitative paleo‐precipitation data in this region. Here we reconstruct the pattern of Middle to Late Miocene paleo‐precipitation across an east‐to‐west transect from the summer monsoon‐dominated East Asian region through the transition zone and into interior Asia. Our work is based on a newly established precipitation calculation equation and quantitative pollen‐based precipitation conversion. Analysis indicates a common trend of precipitation across the studied region prior to ca, 11 Ma, followed by a clear divergence of precipitation variations between East and interior Asia since at least 11–9 Ma. This divergence is characterized by increasing precipitation in East Asia, but a coeval decrease in rainfall in the transition zone and interior Asia. The timing of this precipitation divergence was contemporaneous with intense tectonic activity in the northern Tibetan Plateau, which differentially affected the efficacy of water vapor transport into East and interior Asia. Modeling work using different topographic settings corroborates this tectonic influence. Our study demonstrates the early establishment of modern‐like precipitation patterns in East‐interior Asia at least in the early Late Miocene. Plain Language Summary: The present Asian climate consists of a monsoon‐dominated East Asia, and arid interior Asia. Increasing catastrophic flooding and storm events in monsoon region and an increasing dust storm events within interior Asia in recent years indicate an accelerated divergence in the climate conditions of these two regions. As such, deciphering how modern precipitation patterns became established in East‐interior Asia is crucial for understanding their future climate trends and mitigating possible damaging consequences. Here we developed a quantitative proxy for paleo‐precipitation and reconstruct the Middle to Late Miocene paleo‐precipitation pattern across an east‐to‐west transect from the summer‐monsoonal transition zone to interior Asia. We find that the modern precipitation pattern was established across East to interior Asia during ∼11–9 Ma, distinct with their parallel precipitation variations before this interval. We link the timing of this precipitation divergence to the contemporaneous extensive tectonism associated with the uplift of the northern Tibetan region. This speculation was further corroborated by our high resolution climate modeling. Our study demonstrates an early establishment of modern precipitation patterns in East‐interior Asia at least 9 Ma. Their further precipitation patterns may be subsequently enhanced by global warming events, thus providing corresponding implications for future climate trends in Asia. Key Points: Late Miocene quantitative precipitation reconstruction for different sites in AsiaA modern precipitation pattern between East and Interior Asia established at 11–9 MaIntense upgrowth‐eastward outgrowth of northern Tibetan Plateau is the driving force [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantify the effect of dust accumulation at Jezero crater by means of a Dust Correction Factor (DCF) for the solar radiation measured by the photodiodes of the Radiation and Dust Sensor of the Mars 2020 mission. After one Mars Year, dust on the photodiode surface attenuated 25%–30% of the incoming solar radiation. The DCF did not decrease monotonically; we use a model to reproduce its evolution and to derive dust deposition and lifting rates, showing that dust removal is 9 times larger at Jezero crater than at InSight's location in western Elysium Planitia. The model fit obtained using observed opacities is further improved when fed with dust sedimentation rates simulated by a GCM that considers a particle size distrtibution. Projections show seasonal net dust removal, being encouraging for the long‐term survival of solar‐powered missions to Jezero or similarly active dust lifting regions. Plain Language Summary: Dust is ubiquitous in the Martian atmosphere, accumulating on both natural and artificial surfaces. Dust particularly affects the performance and lifetime of missions: the termination of InSight and MER‐B operations are recent examples. Dust accumulation shows a seasonal behavior, and attenuated 25%–30% of the incoming solar radiation on Perseverance after the first Mars Year of the mission. Dust removal is almost 10 times larger than at InSight's location: projections indicate that surfaces at Jezero will be periodically partially cleaned. The estimations of the effect of the accumulated dust as a function of time are encouraging for solar‐powered missions to regions with similar amounts of dust lifting, which might be determined from orbital data on where dust storms originate, dust devils or their tracks are found, or seasonal albedo changes are noted. In addition, the quantification of the effect of accumulated enables future studies requiring more accurate knowledge of incoming solar radiation at the surface. Key Points: We present the evolution of dust accumulation at Jezero crater for more than one Mars YearWe derive dust deposition and removal rates: removal is 9 times more efficient than at the InSight location in western Elysium PlanitiaProjections show that surfaces at Jezero will experience seasonal net dust removal, encouraging solar‐powered missions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand and dust storms (SDSs) are particularly concerning natural disasters in East Asia. At present, there is still a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of the cross-border SDSs between Mongolia and Northern China and the associated weather systems. This study identifies and documents the spring cross-border SDSs between Mongolia and Northern China based on the MODIS AOD map and Himawari-8/9 dust RGB images and analyzes the corresponding weather system types. A total of 76 spring cross-border SDSs were identified during 2000–2023, accounting for 55.1% of the total SDSs in both countries. The vast majority of the cross-border SDSs (86.8%) were related to Mongolian cyclones (MCs). Among them, 53.9% of the cross-border SDSs were mainly driven by Mongolian cyclones alone, and 32.9% were driven by the combination of MCs and cold highs (MC-CH type). Significant differences in the horizontal distribution of the SDSs were observed for different weather types. MCs alone trigger SDSs in the southern halves of the MCs, so the horizontal extent of the SDSs is consistent with that of MCs but larger than that associated with cold fronts. For the MC-CH type, strong winds in the southern flanks of MCs and their rear cold highs jointly drive a large-scale zonally extensive SDS belt. In recent years, particularly in 2021 and 2023, the strong cross-border SDSs have been dominated by the MC–CH type. This study provides a reference for the forecasting and early identification of cross-border SDS disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-generation in situ dust detectors in near-Earth space have reported the occurrence of clusters of sub-micron dust particles that seemed unrelated to human spaceflight activities. In particular, data from the impact ionization detector onboard the HEOS-2 satellite indicate that such swarms of particles occur throughout the Earth's magnetosphere up to altitudes of 60 000 km—far beyond regions typically used by spacecraft. Further account of high-altitude clusters has since been given by the GEO-deployed GORID detector, however, explanations for the latter have so far only been sought in GEO spaceflight activity. This perspective piece reviews dust cluster detections in near-Earth space, emphasizing the natural swarm creation mechanism conjectured to explain the HEOS-2 data—i.e. the electrostatic disruption of meteoroids. Highlighting this mechanism offers a novel viewpoint on more recent near-Earth dust measurements. We further show that the impact clusters observed by both HEOS-2 and GORID are correlated with increased geomagnetic activity. This consistent correlation supports the notion that both sets of observations stem from the same underlying phenomenon and aligns with the hypothesis of the electrostatic breakup origin. We conclude that the nature of these peculiar swarms remains highly uncertain, advocating for their concerted investigation by forthcoming dust science endeavours, such as the JAXA/DLR DESTINY+ mission. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dust in the Solar System and beyond'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne mineral dust significantly impacts air quality, human health, and the global climate. Due to sparse ground sensors, particularly in source regions, dust monitoring relies mainly on remote sensing through Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) retrievals from polar-orbiting satellite optical instruments. These are valuable but lack the temporal resolution for precise plume tracking and source characterization. We introduce DustSCAN, a five-year, hourly dust plume dataset derived from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) images on geostationary-orbit Meteosat satellites. Using multi-channel infrared images, we detect atmospheric dust and track hourly dust-affected pixels. These are clustered into discrete plumes using the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm. DustSCAN includes 9950 discrete plumes over 2018-2022 across the Sahara, the Arabian Desert, and Western and Central Asia. It complements existing resources and provides a framework for detailed analysis of dust sources, trajectories, and impacts. Its distinctive event-based and spatio-temporal detail offers an advancement in unraveling the complexities of dust storm dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mars atmospheric dynamics are crucial for understanding its climate and weather patterns, especially over plateaus. Previous studies have explored localized atmospheric heating mechanisms over Mars plateaus only to a little extent. The local atmospheric heating dynamics over the Tharsis plateau, especially during global dust storms (GDSs), have not been quantitatively analyzed before. Based on reanalysis datasets, our analysis reveals that the central highlands of Tharsis experience ~130 K diurnal temperature fluctuations, driven by intense daytime convective activity. Surface temperature and near-surface air temperatures show fluctuations approximately 25 K and 20 K higher than those at similar latitudes, respectively. We quantify a super-adiabatic lapse rate around noon that suggests strong atmospheric instability, previously unquantified in this region. By dusk, the atmosphere stabilizes, presenting a homogenized condition. At aphelion, sensible heating and adiabatic terms control the atmospheric heating, while, at perihelion, radiative and sensible heating predominate. Notably, the onset of GDS significantly alters this dynamic, reducing the ground–air temperature gap from 17 K to 5 K and enhancing diabatic heating (adiabatic cooling) in the mid-to-lower (mid-to-upper) troposphere, with increases in radiative components up to 60 W/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on past and present dust storms in Iraq. Notably, this climatic phenomenon has frequently occurred in Iraq, as detailed in historical records. Iraq, specifically Baghdad city, witnessed a series of dust storms in spring 2022. Although these storms are among the normal climatic phenomena in Iraq due to the location in an area with widespread deserts, these storms are distinguished by their severity, causing adverse health effects and leading to aviation disturbance and airport closure. The increase in the intensity of these dust storms could be attributed to the decrease in rainfall in Iraq and neighboring countries in recent years. These storms lasted between 2 and 11 hours (6 hours on average). The frequency of these storms during the spring and summer seasons has increased. Satellite image analysis revealed that the source areas of these dust storms encompass northeastern Syria, eastern Jordan, and northern Saudi Arabia, as well as various sources in Iraq. Synoptic analysis of surface and upper weather maps showed that the comprehensive conditions suitable for dust storm formation can be divided into three cases: the first corresponds to the convergence of two pressure systems over Iraq, the second case corresponds to the convergence of two systems outside the borders of Iraq, and the last case corresponds to a single pressure system impacting Iraq. It was found that the first case accounted for (50%) of the total dust storms, where the meeting of two pressure systems led to the formation of a cold air front forming the core for dust storm development. A cold trough in the upper atmosphere (500 mb) accounted for the majority of dust storms (75%). It was found that the wind speed during these storms ranged from 4-12 m/s, and they were largely accompanied by clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Empty Quarter Desert, one of Earth's major dust sources, frequently experiences dust storms due to wind erosion. Despite its significance as a primary dust source on a global scale, in‐situ observations from this region had not been reported until very recently. In summer 2022, the WInd‐blown Sand Experiment (WISE) Phase‐1 was initiated in the Empty Quarter Desert of the United Arab Emirates, and continued until 7 February 2023. Utilizing a diverse array of instruments, we measured winds, temperature, humidity, radiation fluxes, saltation, and the physical and optical properties of dust aerosols, atmospheric electric fields, and soil characteristics. A total of 38 distinct sand‐saltation events were recorded from September 2022 to February 2023, with activity peaking between 13:00 and 14:00 local time. Key findings include the identification of dominant wind patterns, and the measurement of the average aerodynamic roughness length (z0) at 0.8 ± 0.6 mm, and the thermal roughness length (zh) at 0.3 ± 0.5 mm—the first estimation of zh for this area. In‐situ observations revealed that dust particle concentrations near the surface increased 1.7‐fold on days with saltation compared to days without it. Moreover, we determined a wind‐speed threshold for initiating saltation at 7.70 m s−1. This comprehensive data set significantly advances our understanding of atmospheric‐soil interactions and sand movement dynamics, providing invaluable insights for ongoing research into desert environments and the global dust cycle. Plain Language Summary: The Empty Quarter Desert, one of the Earth's major dust sources, frequently experiences dust storms due to wind erosion. Despite its importance as a main dust source on a global scale, no in‐situ observations from this region have been reported until very recently. In the summer of 2022, the WInd‐blown Sand Experiment (WISE) Phase‐1 provided crucial data on the arid environment of the Empty Quarter Desert in the United Arab Emirates. Lasting until February 2023, this experiment focused on quantifying environmental and soil characteristics through an array of measurements, including wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity, radiation fluxes, and dust particle concentrations. The study revealed dominant wind patterns, quantified the aerodynamic and thermal roughness of the desert soil, and recorded 38 distinct sand movement events, noting a peak in activity during early afternoon hours. This research is significant for its detailed analysis of particle concentration changes during these events and its establishment of a specific wind speed threshold for sand movement in this region. These findings are invaluable for researchers studying desert environments, particularly in terms of understanding atmospheric‐soil interactions and the dynamics of sand movement. Key Points: First‐of‐its kind experiment in the Empty Quarter Desert to characterize environmental dynamicsThe first estimation of the thermal roughness length (zh) for this desert and is found to be 0.3 mmThe derived wind‐speed threshold for saltation at the Empty Quarter Desert is 7.70 m s−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's first Mars sampling return mission (Tianwen‐3) is designed to launch and retrieve samples around 2030. Three tentative landing areas (TLAs) (Amazonis, Chryse and Utopia Planitiae, i.e., TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U) are selected based on elevation <−2,000 m and latitude between 17° and 30°N. As a dominant feature of Martian meteorology, dust storms manifest in all seasons and affect the accuracy and safety of Mars exploration missions. Tianwen‐3's landing, sampling and ascent phases are in the dust storm season. Therefore, analyzing dust storm activity around landing areas is significant for the Tianwen‐3 mission. According to Mars Daily Global Maps taken by Mars Orbiter Camera spanning Martian years 24–28, 2,476 dust storm events around the three TLAs were identified in this research. Dust storm temporal probabilities within TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U were calculated as 0%–44.69%, 0%–66.29% and 0%–33.64%, separately. Dust storm spatial probabilities around the TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U were computed, with ranges of 0%–10.71%, 0%–14.55% and 0%–19.96% during the T1 period (Ls = 161–309°), and 0%–6.75%, 0%–7.65% and 0%–8.26% during the T2 period (Ls = 342‐55°), respectively. Finally, considering the temporal and spatial distribution of dust storms, we recommend the T2 period as the launch scenario. Three safe periods (Ls = 2–18°, 4–12°, and 356–4°) were assigned for the entry‐descent‐landing (EDL) phase, along with one period (Ls = 45–55°) for the take‐off and ascent phase. Five circular landing zones with dust storm spatial probability <3% were selected for the Tianwen‐3 mission. Plain Language Summary: Tianwen‐3 is the first Mars sampling return mission by China, scheduled to launch and return samples around 2030. Three tentative landing areas (TLAs), Amazonis Planitia (TLA‐A), Chryse Planitia (TLA‐C), and Utopia Planitia (TLA‐U), located at elevations of <−2,000 m and within the latitude range of 17°–30°N. Three TLAs are situated along the trajectories of Martian dust storm sequences. The harsh dusty conditions significantly impact the success of the Mars exploration mission. Therefore, it is meaningful to analyze the dust storm occurrence probability within and around three TLAs. In this study, we utilized Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Daily Global Maps to (a) detect the dust storm events around three TLAs in five consecutive Mars years (MY 24–28); (b) calculate and analyze the temporal and spatial probabilities of dust storm occurrence; and (c) designate the safe landing areas, the preferred take‐off and ascent and entry‐descent‐landing (EDL) periods for the Tianwen‐3 mission. Key Points: Dust storms within three tentative landing areas exhibit distinct seasonality and heterogeneity throughout a Mars year, with clear solstitial pause periodsDust storm spatial‐temporal analysis reveals that the T2 period is more suitable as the launch scenario for the Tianwen‐3The preferred entry‐descent‐landing period, preferred take‐off and ascent period, and safe landing areas are chosen for the Tianwen‐3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wind erosion is one of the main causes of land degradation and desertification. Clarifying the spatiotemporal variations of wind erosion and the dominant factors of its spatial characteristics and the temporal trend will contribute to the establishment of appropriate wind erosion control and management practices, which is essential for combating global land degradation and strengthening ecological protection in drylands. Here, we assessed wind erosion in Africa during 2001–2020 based on the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ). We also analyzed the influential factor of spatial characteristics and temporal variation based on machine learning and other methods under different aridity. Results revealed that the average annual wind erosion modulus was 16,672 t/km2/a in Africa during 2001–2020, with hyper‐arid areas and arid areas accounting for more than 90% of the total wind erosion modulus. The spatial characteristics of wind erosion were dominated by natural factors but not anthropogenic activities. Except in hyper‐arid areas, wind speed and vegetation coverage together dominated the spatial characteristics. Wind speed was the dominant factor in wind erosion change, while in arid and semi‐arid areas, the capability of vegetation coverage to affect wind erosion change was comparable to wind speed. It can be concluded that, although revegetation does contribute to the reduction of wind erosion in arid and semi‐arid areas, taking into account water resource constraints and land use conflicts, large plantations can be replaced with windbreaks to increase vegetation coverage while reducing near‐surface wind speed, which improves the sustainability of ecological projects aimed at combating land degradation and desertification. Plain Language Summary: Wind erosion can decrease soil fertility and is the main cause of dust storms in drylands. Therefore, clarifying the spatial and temporal dynamics of wind erosion is very important for combating land degradation and desertification. We used the Revised Wind Erosion Equation to assess the wind erosion in Africa over the period 2001–2020 and analyzed its driving forces. This study found a fluctuating decline of wind erosion in Africa over the past 20 years, with severe wind erosion mainly in the Sahara Desert, the Somali Peninsula, and Southern Africa, and with hyper‐arid areas and arid areas accounting for more than 90% of the wind erosion modulus. Wind speed was the dominant factor in the spatial and temporal dynamics of wind erosion, especially in the hyper‐arid areas where wind erosion was most severe. However, vegetation coverage also played an equally crucial role in reducing wind erosion in arid and semi‐arid areas. Therefore, slowing down the wind speed and increasing the vegetation coverage are both important approaches to restricting wind erosion, but considering the limitation of water resources, the related ecological projects should replace large‐scale planting with windbreaks to realize sustainability in combating land degradation and desertification. Key Points: Wind erosion in hyper‐arid and arid areas accounted for more than 90% of Africa's total wind erosion modulusWind speed dominated the spatial characteristics of wind erosion in Africa and contributed to an 81.66% variation in the wind erosionSubstituting large‐scale plantations with windbreaks can enhance the sustainability of ecological engineering projects to combat land degradation and desertification [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the potential of some of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) (Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar (QA), Bahrain (BH), Oman (OM)), Yemen (YE), Iraq (IQ), and Jordan (JO) to use their abundant solar radiation to generate electricity through PV technology. The study is structured to help decision-makers access the necessary data related to the status of solar-energy infrastructure and power production in the study region. The study investigates current efforts to establish PV technology and the challenges hindering the development of this technology. These efforts and challenges are then benchmarked against their status in Australia, which has climate and landscape conditions similar to those of the countries in the study region. It was found that Australia is successfully adopting solar energy in households and industrial locations despite its historical reliance on fossil fuels for energy production. This offers a potential avenue for replicating the Australian model of PV development in the study region. This work also addresses the effect of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on the performance of the PV panels. Meanwhile, it also proposes a conceptual model to help local governments and decision-makers in adopting solar-energy projects in the study region. Additionally, a preliminary carbon-footprint analysis of avoided emissions from PV energy utilization compared to national grid intensity was performed for each country. Findings show that the countries in the study region have great potential for using solar energy to gradually replace fossil fuels and protect the environment. It is observed that more hours of daylight and clear-to-scattered cloud coverage help increase solar irradiance near the ground all year around. Dust and aerosol loadings, however, were found to greatly reduce solar irradiance over the GCC area, especially during large dust events. Despite the high potential for harvesting solar energy in the study region, only a handful of PV plants and infrastructural facilities have been established, mostly in the KSA, the UAE, and Jordan. It was found that there is a critical need to put in place regulations, policies, and near-future vision to support solar energy generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the economic, social, and environmental impacts of dust storms on pastoralists' livelihoods in the Chaqakdo rangeland of West Iran. Data was collected through face‐to‐face interviews with 100 pastoralists in 2019. The research adopts a quantitative approach using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results demonstrate a significant and positive relationship between pastoralists' livelihoods and the three independent variables (environmental, economic, and social), with the strongest correlation observed in environmental factors. The path coefficients indicate positive effects on pastoralists' livelihoods. Additionally, dust storms were found to have detrimental environmental effects, such as plant leaf pollution, reduced grazing, and decreased growth of grassland plants. Therefore, it is crucial to establish adaptive measures to mitigate the impacts of dust storms on pastoralists, considering their heavy reliance on the local pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Where Treasures Shine: Lionel Gee, A Forgotten South Australian Mining Identity" is a comprehensive biography by Judy Fander that sheds light on the overlooked contributions of Lionel Gee to the mining industry in South Australia and the Northern Territory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gee's career spanned over 50 years, during which he rose from a cadet surveyor to a goldfields warden. The biography highlights Gee's engaging personality, diverse talents, and community involvement. It also provides vivid descriptions of the harsh conditions on the goldfields and Gee's role in settling disputes and advocating for miners' needs. The book is a valuable resource for those interested in mining history and South Australian history in general. [Extracted from the article]