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Dust fallout characteristics within global dust storm major trajectories

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Abstract

Satellite images from 2000 to 2010 were used to identify major dust trajectories within seven major deserts in the world. The fallen dust from these trajectories were collected and analyzed. The fallen dust rates tend to be lower downwind. The average samples of the world's fallen dust are negatively skewed trimodal with dominancy of silt size fractions (61 %). Most of the fallen dust within major dust trajectories is fining downwind. The fallen dust from the eastern zones (Taklimakan, Gobi, and Australian deserts) are characterized by higher percentages of feldspars and clay minerals, low carbonate content, and grain surface area in comparison to the Western zones (Sahara and Arabian deserts). The Western Sahara Desert dust is differentiated by the highest depositional rates and average quartz percentage (66 %). The dust samples in this zone contain low carbonates and grain surface area compared to dust from the Eastern Sahara Desert. The dust samples within Northern Arabia and Ethiopian-south Arabia zones show the highest average of carbonate amounts and grain surface area.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (project EC063C grant no. 2008-1401-01) and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (project EC041K). Thanks are also extended to Mr. Majid Al-Dousari and chemist Violet Farid for helping in sample collections. Many thanks are due to Dr. Subramanian and Dr. Misak for proofreading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal and Air Pollution Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat, Kuwait City, 13109, Kuwait

    Ali M. Al-Dousari & Modi Ahmed

  2. Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait

    Jasem Al-Awadhi

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  1. Ali M. Al-Dousari
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  2. Jasem Al-Awadhi
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  3. Modi Ahmed
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Correspondence to Ali M. Al-Dousari.

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Al-Dousari, A.M., Al-Awadhi, J. & Ahmed, M. Dust fallout characteristics within global dust storm major trajectories. Arab J Geosci 6, 3877–3884 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0644-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0644-0

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