The Synoptic Patterns Associated with Spring Widespread Dusty Days in Central and Eastern Saudi Arabia

Seeking Ways for Dealing with the Impacts of Sandstorms on the Railway Network in Saudi Arabia

Sandstorms that cause shifting dunes are a huge technical challenge in the development of the railway network in Saudi Arabia, and are known as one of the most concerning atmospheric aspects. In this case, the weather or climate change makes railways more problematic and costly in Saudi Arabia compared to other countries. The purpose of this article is to develop Saudi Arabia’s rail system in order to overcome environmental difficulties and obstacles such as wind–sand flow behavior and other impediments (e.g., camels) by constructing obstructions such as protective walls and dykes. Theoretical analysis is used to investigate the major components that influence wind velocity and density. The wind velocity in the majority of the locations in Saudi Arabia was employed as a control value in this study, which was based on the Saudi building standard SBC301. Sandstorm protection is best achieved by combining four different building solutions, including ditches, dykes, trees, and concrete barriers. The site parameters, such as sand particle size, air velocity, and the required downwind strip distance, all influence which of the four recommended approaches is optimal. From this study, it is concluded that the wind speed at the height of interest (barrier height) should be calculated using wind shear exponents ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 depending on the topography and surface roughness aspects. A new equation based on two parameters, Q1 and n, as a function of the wind shear exponent is suggested to predict the percentage of wind velocity increase (Vinc %) over the barriers. This study found that the protected distance between the downwind strip and the receiver might be anywhere between 20 and 40 m.

Characteristics of the severe March 2021 Gobi Desert dust storm and its impact on air pollution in China

A dust storm that formed in the north of China and the southeastern part of Mongolia in March 2021 significantly deteriorated air quality over a large area of East Asia. According to the synoptic pattern, the cause of the dust storm was a cyclone with a significant drop in pressure leading to high winds and dry components of the soil over parts of the Gobi Desert becoming airborne. Data obtained from ground-based air quality monitoring stations show that the observed hourly PM₁₀ concentration greatly exceeded the recommended maximum of 150 μg/m³ with readings above 1500 μg/m³ in the cities of Tianjin, Baoding, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Zhoukou. In Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Jinnan, Xining, Baotou, and Jining. In Handan, it was over 2000 μg/m³. Cities where PM₁₀ concentration exceeded 3900 μg/m³ included Lanzhou, Hohhot, Changzhou, Alashan, Yan'an, Yulin, Hami, Jiuquan, Heze, Hotan, and Baiyin. Concentrations exceeded 7000 μg/m³ on March 15th over parts of the provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Ningxia, in the cities of Ordos, Jinchang, Wuwei and Zhongwei. According to satellite data, the area of dust covered approximately 450,000 km². MODIS and TROPOMI data demonstrated high aerosol optical depth (AOD) (more than 1) with a high ultraviolet aerosol index (UVAI) (more than 2), confirming the predominance of dust particles during the storm. Data from CALIPSO show the presence of a dense layer of dust extending from the earth's surface to a height of about 8 km. The Dust Regional Atmospheric Model (BSC-DREAM8b) demonstrates high synchrony with the satellite's surface dust concentration data, ranging from 640 to 1280 μg/m³, and exceeding 2650 μg/m³ in some areas. The purpose of this study is to analyze data from ground-based sensors, satellites, and atmospheric models to better understand the March 2021 dust storm event. The results may be useful for the implementation of protective and preventive measures for both the environment and human health, including air quality control.

Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ Climate Change Mitigation Challenges and Exploration of Solar and Wind Energy Resource Potential

Climate change mitigation is one of the most critical challenges of this century. The unprecedented global effects of climate change are wide-ranging, including changing weather patterns that threaten food production, increased risk of catastrophic floods, and rising sea levels. Adapting to these impacts will be more difficult and costly in the future if radical changes are not made now. This review paper evaluates the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries’ potential for solar and wind energy resources to meet climate change mitigation requirements and assesses the ability of the GCC region to shift towards low-carbon technologies. The review demonstrates that the GCC region is characterized by abundant solar energy resources. The northwestern, southeastern, and western mountains of the region are highlighted as locations for solar energy application. Oman displays the highest onshore wind speed range, 3–6.3 m s⁻1, and has the highest annual solar radiation of up to 2500 kWh/m2. Kuwait has the second highest onshore wind speed range of 4.5–5.5 m s⁻1. The western mountains and northwestern Saudi Arabia have a wind speed range of 3–6 m s⁻1. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the second highest annual solar radiation, 2285 kWh/m2, while Saudi Arabia and the state of Kuwait have equal annual solar radiation at 2200 kWh/m2. This review demonstrates that abundant offshore wind energy resources were observed along the coastal areas of the Arabian Gulf, as well as a potential opportunity for wind energy resource development in the Red Sea, which was characterized by high performance. In addition, the GCC countries will not be able to control and address the interrelated issues of climate change in the future if they do not eliminate fossil fuel consumption, adhere to the Paris Agreement, and implement plans to utilize their natural resources to meet these challenges.