Identification of dust sources using long term satellite and climatic data: A case study of Tigris and Euphrates basin

摘要: Abstract Dust storms are considered as one of the most important environmental challenges in West Asia region. In addition to harmful impacts dust on human health, they also have particular effects socioeconomic and agroecological domains communities. Identify sources is first step combat against these devastating phenomena. Accordingly, present study was conducted determine Tigris Euphrates basin using satellite climatic data. Monthly LST NDVI MODIS, monthly wind speed, soil moisture, absolute air humidity data from GLDAS, TRMM precipitation, texture FAO were used. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model applied weights collected (i.e. criteria or drivers for formation). Susceptible Areas Storm Formation (SADSF) determined Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) months June, July, August 2000 2017. After performing SADSF analysis, five main identified whole basin. To evaluate accuracy results, number real Observed Storms (ODS) each source compared repetition allocation pixel over 18-year period this Results indicated that area has significantly grown all three since 2008. areas June July almost same, while bigger than August. Among sources, highest northwest Iraq followed by eastern Syria, southern Iraq, southeast border east respectively. correlation coefficient between with ODS events those recognized equal 0.88, 0.76, 0.74 August, respectively, shows our results comparison actual