Scientific- Research Quarterly of Geographical Data (SEPEHR)

Scientific- Research Quarterly of Geographical Data (SEPEHR)

Monitoring and SynopticAnalysis ofDust Haze Phenomenon using Remote Sensing and GIS (Case study: June 18, 2012 Dust haze)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammad Fallah Zazuli
Alireza Vafaeinezhad
Mir Masoud Kheirkhah Zarkesh
Fariborz Ahmadi Dehka
10.22131/sepehr.2014.12863
Abstract
Dusthazephenomenon in the recent decadeis one of the most important environmental challenges in Iran, West and Southwest Asia.This phenomenon is one of the processes of desertification occurring in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Remote sensing is thescience and technique for the acquisition of information from geographic phenomena without any contact with them.Todetectthephenomenonofdusthaze,large-scaleimagesare needed withwidecoverageandhighfrequency. Therefore,theimagesrelatedtoMODISsensoraresuitablefor thestudies on thephenomenon of dusthazeduetothe presence of highspectralbands. Detection of the generating origin or the source of dust haze particles and its quick monitoring with accuracy and low cost is of great importance. The main objectives of this research are to identify the generating source of dust haze entering the West and Southwest regions of Iran and to monitor the movement of dust haze as well. In this research, the occurrence origin of dust haze phenomenon is related to June 18, 2012 which occurred in the Western and Southwestern parts of the country, and was identified with the help of satellite images and by using visible and thermal bands of MODIS sensor and usingthe Ackerman index.It was found out that, its main origin was the point where Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet, which is within the northern and northeastern parts of Iraq and western Syria, and It was further found that the images of the MODIS sensor are suitable for dust haze monitoring due to its availability, low cost, and its repeatability in 2 periods of time within 24 hours. Also, its synoptic analysis to detect the movement of dust haze from the source into Iran was investigated using 500 hectopascal level synoptic data of geopotential height, sea level pressure and the wind current direction maps of 500 and 1000 hectopascals. The results of the synoptic analysis have optimized the origin detection and the way of dust haze transmission, and makes it more appropriate to predict the path of the dust haze motion. Finally, its movement demonstration from the source into Iran was trackedby the use of GIS and Spatial Analysis Tools.
Dusthazephenomenon in the recent decadeis one of the most important environmental challenges in Iran, West and Southwest Asia.This phenomenon is one of the processes of desertification occurring in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Remote sensing is thescience and technique for the acquisition of information from geographic phenomena without any contact with them.Todetectthephenomenonofdusthaze,large-scaleimagesare needed withwidecoverageandhighfrequency. Therefore,theimagesrelatedtoMODISsensoraresuitablefor thestudies on thephenomenon of dusthazeduetothe presence of highspectralbands. Detection of the generating origin or the source of dust haze particles and its quick monitoring with accuracy and low cost is of great importance. The main objectives of this research are to identify the generating source of dust haze entering the West and Southwest regions of Iran and to monitor the movement of dust haze as well. In this research, the occurrence origin of dust haze phenomenon is related to June 18, 2012 which occurred in the Western and Southwestern parts of the country, and was identified with the help of satellite images and by using visible and thermal bands of MODIS sensor and usingthe Ackerman index.It was found out that, its main origin was the point where Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet, which is within the northern and northeastern parts of Iraq and western Syria, and It was further found that the images of the MODIS sensor are suitable for dust haze monitoring due to its availability, low cost, and its repeatability in 2 periods of time within 24 hours. Also, its synoptic analysis to detect the movement of dust haze from the source into Iran was investigated using 500 hectopascal level synoptic data of geopotential height, sea level pressure and the wind current direction maps of 500 and 1000 hectopascals. The results of the synoptic analysis have optimized the origin detection and the way of dust haze transmission, and makes it more appropriate to predict the path of the dust haze motion. Finally, its movement demonstration from the source into Iran was trackedby the use of GIS and Spatial Analysis Tools.
 
Keywords
Dust haze phenomenon
Remote Sensing
MODIS Sensor
Ackerman index
GIS