Investigation of Severe Dust Storms Over Baghdad City by Using Remote Sensing Measurements and Ground Data

Abstract Dust aerosols have serious influences on different sectors such as the economy, climate change, pollution, transportation and public health. storms increased over Middle East especially impacting central Iraq lately. The goal of work is to identify possible dust sources pathways influencing study area. Using remote sensing data by employing monthly average Aerosol Index (AI-OMI), HYSPLIT model MODIS satellite examine potential their transport through spring season in 2012. results aerosol index (AI) values OMI were high during summer but low autumn winter. AI are likely major including eastern parts Syria, Kuwait, north Saudi Arabia, southwestern Iran, well south Iraq. Also, analyses show predominate directions which can reach Baghdad city transported from region north-western, western findings for agreement with images – satellites (dust revealed satellites). information CALIPSO that activity had reached 18 kilometres stratosphere layer. trajectories travel like image satellite.