Reinforcing Existing Ideas on the Sand and Dust Storms Environmental Impact
 |
| Figure 01, Sand and Dusty Storms in Qatar Desert (credit: Flickr) |
Insight
The sand and dust storms are happening
around the world like a typhoon in the Pacific region, however, in the Middle
East region, the sand, and dust storm (Figure 01) or they called them as
“sandstorms” are a regular occurrence and common in the arid and semi-arid land
like in Doha. In 15-years onward in Qatar, this is not new to the author, but a
kind of environment is impacting an individual’s health which is not good for
humanity. The sand and dust storms can
cause social disruption and economic loss. Consequently, according to
scientists and researchers, the composition of dust storms have played an
essential role in the global dust cycle, which alters the radiative balance.
And because of this occurrence, sand and dust storms can eventually damage the
agricultural crops farming in the region, and usually, this might retard the
plant growth and castrate the marine benthic organism’s life cycle which has
been blocking the path due to less sunlight discernment unto the floor.
But how we can identify and assure when
there are sand and dusty storms happenings? However, like for example that when
you are driving your own car and the visibility is found below 1000 meters
coincidentally on the beautiful dusty day when the unavoidable sand and dust
storm is occurring. However, the sand and dust storms should not be confused
with other types involved, which for them can help in knowing with a big factor
of clouds of dust such as rising dust, suspended dust and haze in our
collective family home.
Qatar is among the countries located in the
Middle East Region, which accordingly has extreme temperature places on Earth
compared to the Philippines, and that is a tropical place. Also, the state is
highly vulnerable to the impact of environmental change
Sand & Dusty Storms Environmental Effect in
the Arid Countries
The weighty sandstorm pedigree in the GCC (Gulf
Cooperation Council) arid countries is because of the presence of the desert
itself compared to the Sahara Desert accounted only for 25% of the suspended
microparticles in the atmosphere. Based on the geographic data, the total
annual production worldwide of dust by the soils deflation and its sediments
have been estimated at around 61 to 366 million tons. Accordingly, with Africa
alone, the data has been evaluated with more than 100 million tons of dust per
annum is blown westward over the Atlantic. The Arabian Peninsula is also
recognized as one of the significant sources of sand in the world.
The significant provenance in the current
day of sand and dust storms which are known from the subtropical desert regions
and with the semi-arid and sub-humid areas whereas the dry exposed sand has a
tendency to be driven by dreadful winds during the dry period of the year that
falls every summer period in the Gulf region. However, the regional sources of
dust and sand are from the alluvial plains of southern Mesopotamia, Syrian
Desert, Jordan, and North Saudi Arabia. The sand and dust storms in the GCC
region dominated by the winds from Shamal, and it is the local name for the
northerly as well as for the north-westerly winds.
As we all know that the desert regions are
identified with the two main factors causing sand and dust storms based on the
geographic and climatic conditions. However, some of the components of these
two conditions are the followings;
With the loose and dry sand, dirt, lack of
vegetation or land cover,
Having strong seasonal wind speed on the
ground,
The surface air turbulence is due to the
enormous amounts of radiation in the region,
The vertical and unstable weather
conditions,
The dry surfaces which are expected to lack
rain,
With the decrease in soil moisture and the
soil/ sand binding capacity due to reduced or lack of rainfall, and
The anthropogenic factors such as land
clearing and desertification
Moreover, the frequency of sand and dust
storms during summertime are more prevalent, and that provides the most
favorable climatic conditions for the same. However, the human-induced changes
have been considered due to its significant factors increase in the occurrences
of sand and dust storms in some of the non-arid regions.
Impact of Sand & Dusty Storms Locally and
Globally on Climate
In a typical scenario, dust can be found
easily anywhere in the flat, offices or somewhere else wherever we go, and it
is due to the air pollutions we breathe that gives us a warning indication. The
dust particles which are in the air have caused with shielding effect and look
likely as the rain cloud in the sky. The dust particle is commonly known as the
dust aerosols which castrates the environmental temperature through the
interception of the sunlight radiation approaches that reduce during the
occurrence on the surface. The so-called, net radiation as implied is equal to
the sunlight that has been absorbed less with the thermal radiation which has
been emitted within the surface then back to the atmosphere are the
consequences of the cooling effect locally within a period temporarily. And
this effect can reduce the temperature by 10 degrees Celsius because of the
diminishing sunlight plays within the surface. But for you to know, with the
discussed dust aerosols differs from the sulfate aerosols which emitted from
the activities during a volcanic eruption.
Moreover, let us discuss the difference of
the sulfate aerosols to the dust aerosols impacting the relevance to the
environment. The sulfate aerosols lofted into the stratosphere during the
volcanic eruption which reflects where the sunlight back into the space that
reduces the amount of the radiative heating on both occasions within the
atmosphere surface level. However, the effect of the solar heat displacement
away from the surface within the local level is due to the dust aerosol which
emasculates the Earth’s temperature. Whereas the cooling effect can only
sustain within the short period as the heat from the surrounding warmer region
will be transferred to the dust affected area to bring equilibrium in the
temperature distribution and thereby to offset the cooling effect. And with
this condition, therefore, the result of local temperature will get back to the
usual scenario within the period.
Thus, the cooling effect of the Arabian dust
cloud which can be extended for quite some time from northern Asia into the
Pacific and North America whenever the atmospheric circulation connects the
regions downwind beneath the dust cloud in Figure 02.
 |
| Figure 02, Environmental Change with the Sand and Dusty Storms in Qatar (credit: Flickr) |
Effect on the Green Building Environment and
Sustainability
The effect of sand and dust storms
occurrence in the Middle East region can cause a negative environmental impact
on the infrastructure and building built environment subjected to the three
pillars and it is with the sustainability, the society, the economy, and the
environment. But with the technological advancement and application, however,
this can be done through the treatment process for green building applications.
Overall, the occurrence has bad implications especially to the environment, and
as the dust cloud rises, this reduces the horizontal visibility effect whereas
the low visibility is impacting human life in many forms, but mostly resulting
in a health problem.
The fine suspended particles of sand and
dust storms contain various contaminants, bacteria, pollens, which according to
the Supreme Health Institution can cause negative on personal health impacts
which will suffer from allergies and respiratory diseases. Moreover, the dust
carries airborne pollutants through with the toxins, heavy metals, salt,
sulfur, pesticides, and others that cause significant health impacts when
individuals inhale the fine suspended contaminated dust.
Conclusion
Aside from personal health impacts gained,
the effect of sand and dusty storms occurrence in the infrastructure can
destroy the entire buildings, services, and other infrastructure facilities.
Because it was found out that the sand and dust particles contain a high level
of salts within the deserted gulf region that includes Qatar whereas the author
residing currently, and this is the reason that can be able to say something
based on the observation and experiences in the region for more the 15+years in
a row. And with the semi-arid lands environment in the area, again, the impacts
of sand and dust storms occurrence may be a more critical component in the
agro-ecosystems too. However, some technological innovation is still
approaching based on the researches and studies that maybe soon will be
applied to improve the agricultural sector in the country.
Hence, as an environmental advocate, it is
the capacity of the society and the natural systems either to prevent or to
minimize the impacts of environmental change through the effect of sand and
dusty storms occurrence. And again, it is the government and with their policies
can do something to help and protect humanity living in the country in securing
a sustainable environment and quality life.
Write-Up
References can be Read from this Links;
Gomeseria,
RV; (December 2018); “Environmental
Advocacy & Conservation Personal Journal & Reflections;”
Durreesamin Journal (ISSN: 2204-9827) December Vol 4 Issue 3; the Year 2018
Gomeseria, RV; (2019,
January); "Reinforcing
Existing Ideas on the Sand and Dust Storms Environmental Impact;” Retrieved from; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330601562_Reinforcing_Existing_Ideas_on_the_Sand_and_Dust_Storms_Environmental_Impact
Comments
Post a Comment