Study of the Synoptic Characteristics of a Severe Dust Storm over Iraq Using Regional Climate Model 4

Abstract

This study includes a detailed description of dust storms occurred in 3 May, 2005. The research analyses the synoptic conditions for the pressure system movements, temperatures changes and the wind time distribution. The condition leads to enhancement or reduces the dust storm that heading to Iraq. The analysis of the synoptic situation accompanied with the selected day is illustrated using the reanalysis data of ERA-Interim. Also, Back-Trajectories from Noaa Hysplit model backward trajectories is also used for three cities in Iraq (Mosul, Baghdad and Basra). In this study, a simple classification for the selected case is created based on the total amount of the dust in the atmospheric column (dust_load) simulated by the regional climate model of RegCM4.