Temporal trend of dust storm events and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 ) in Iran's metropolises, 2011-2022
-
Mohammad Khanizadeh
,
Ali Akbar Hassanpour
,
Milad Malekpour
,
Niloufar Borhani Yazdi
,
Elahe Noruzzade
,
Mansour Shamsipour
,
Sadegh Niazi
,
Kazem Naddafi
,
Fatemeh Momeniha
,
Arman Abdipour
,
Ensieh Sharafkhani
,
Masoumeh Hashamfirooz
,
Faramarz Azimi
,
Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand
Abstract
Introduction: This study investigates the temporal trends of Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations across nine major Iranian cities from 2011 to 2022, assessing long-term air pollution patterns and associated environmental challenges.
Materials and methods: PM concentration data were obtained from air quality monitoring stations. Dust storm events were identified using World Meteorological Organization (WMO) criteria. The primary objective was to analyze spatiotemporal variations and trends, which were statistically assessed using Sen’s slope method.
Results: PM10 levels consistently exceeded WHO annual guidelines by 2.13 to 12 times, while PM2.5 levels were 1.37 to 6.89 times higher. Ahvaz recorded the highest cumulative SDS hours (25,318), followed by Yazd (10,062) and Tabriz (9,609), with annual stormy days reaching up to 66. The most pronounced increases in PM10 occurred in Ahvaz, Yazd, and Tabriz. Maximum annual PM10 concentrations were observed in Ahvaz (179.8 µg/m3 in 2013) and Yazd (135.85 µg/m3 in 2022), whereas peak PM2.5 levels were reported in Ahvaz (57.2 µg/m3 in 2022) and Shiraz (43.37 µg/m3 in 2019).
Conclusion: The escalating intensity and frequency of SDS are linked to regional climate variability, drought, and land degradation. The findings underscore an urgent need for comprehensive mitigation strategies, including desertification control, sustainable land management, and enhanced regional cooperation to address these critical environmental and public health challenges.
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11. Velasco-Merino C, Mateos D, Toledano C, Prospero JM, Molinie J, Euphrasie-Clotilde L, et al. Impact of long-range transport over the Atlantic Ocean on Saharan dust optical and microphysical properties based on AERONET data. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2018;18(13):9411–24.
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22. Al-Dousari A, Al-Nassar W, Al-Hemoud A, Alsaleh A, Ramadan A, Al-Dousari N, et al. Solar and wind energy: Challenges and solutions in desert regions. Energy. 2019;176:184–94.
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24. Lau K, Kim K, Sud Y, Walker G, editors. A GCM study of the response of the atmospheric water cycle of West Africa and the Atlantic to Saharan dust radiative forcing. Annales Geophysicae; 2009: Copernicus GmbH.
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32. Namdari S, Karimi N, Sorooshian A, Mohammadi G, Sehatkashani S. Impacts of climate and synoptic fluctuations on dust storm activity over the Middle East. Atmospheric environment. 2018;173:265–76.
33. An L, Che H, Xue M, Zhang T, Wang H, Wang Y, et al. Temporal and spatial variations in sand and dust storm events in East Asia from 2007 to 2016: Relationships with surface conditions and climate change. Science of the total environment. 2018;633:452–62.
34. Albugami S, Palmer S, Cinnamon J, Meersmans J. Spatial and temporal variations in the incidence of dust storms in Saudi Arabia revealed from in situ observations. Geosciences. 2019;9(4):162.
35. Papi R, Attarchi S, Darvishi Boloorani A, Neysani Samany N. Characterization of Hydrologic Sand and Dust Storm Sources in the Middle East. Sustainability. 2022;14(22):15352.
36. Alkandari AJ. Climate and Climate Change Aspects of Kuwait. Terrestrial Environment and Ecosystems of Kuwait: Assessment and Restoration: Springer; 2024. p. 57–91.
37. Adamo N, Al-Ansari N, Sissakian V, Fahmi KJ, Abed SA. Climate change: Droughts and increasing desertification in the Middle East, with special reference to Iraq. Engineering. 2022;14(07):235–73.
38. Moghbeli A, Delbari M, Amiri M. Application of a standardized precipitation index for mapping drought severity in an arid climate region, southeastern Iran. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 2020;13(5):221.
39. Desertification UNCtC. Global alarm: dust and sandstorms from the world's drylands: United Nations Publications; 2001.
40. Ginoux P, Prospero JM, Torres O, Chin M. Long-term simulation of global dust distribution with the GOCART model: correlation with North Atlantic Oscillation. Environmental Modelling & Software. 2004;19(2):113–28.
41. Beyranvand A, Azizi G, Alizadeh-Choobari O, Darvishi Boloorani A. Spatial and temporal variations in the incidence of dust events over Iran. Natural Hazards. 2019;97:229–41.
42. Broomandi P, Karaca F, Guney M, Fathian A, Geng X, Kim JR. Destinations frequently impacted by dust storms originating from southwest Iran. Atmospheric Research. 2021;248:105264.
43. Alizadeh‐Choobari O, Ghafarian P, Owlad E. Temporal variations in the frequency and concentration of dust events over Iran based on surface observations. International Journal of Climatology. 2016;36(4).
44. Hamzeh NH, Kaskaoutis DG, Rashki A, Mohammadpour K. Long-term variability of dust events in southwestern Iran and its relationship with the drought. Atmosphere. 2021;12(10):1350.
45. Air Quality Management System (AQMS), Department of Environment, Iran [Available from: https://aqms.doe.ir.
46. Faridi S, Niazi S, Yousefian F, Azimi F, Pasalari H, Momeniha F, et al. Spatial homogeneity and heterogeneity of ambient air pollutants in Tehran. Science of the total environment. 2019;697:134123.
47. Khanizadeh M, Naddafi K, Yunesian M, Hoek G, Nabizadeh R, Suh H, et al. Comparison of PM2. 5 around 1893 elementary schools and kindergartens in Tehran over different time windows. Urban Climate. 2025;59:102249.
48. Yousefian F, Faridi S, Azimi F, Aghaei M, Shamsipour M, Yaghmaeian K, et al. Temporal variations of ambient air pollutants and meteorological influences on their concentrations in Tehran during 2012–2017. Scientific reports. 2020;10(1):292.
49. Shamsipour M, Farzadfar F, Gohari K, Parsaeian M, Amini H, Rabiei K, et al. A framework for exploration and cleaning of environmental data–Tehran air quality data experience. Archives of Iranian medicine. 2014;17(12):0–.
50. Jafari AJ, Faridi S, Momeniha F. Temporal variations of atmospheric benzene and its health effects in Tehran megacity (2010-2013). Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2019;26:17214–23.
51. UNION P. Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. Official Journal of the European Union. 2008.
52. USEPA. QA Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems Volume II Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program. 2013.
53. Gocic M, Trajkovic S. Analysis of changes in meteorological variables using Mann-Kendall and Sen's slope estimator statistical tests in Serbia. Global and planetary change. 2013;100:172–82.
54. Zhou H, Zhou C, Lynam MM, Dvonch JT, Barres JA, Hopke PK, et al. Atmospheric Mercury Temporal Trends in the Northeastern United States from 1992 to 2014: Are Measured Concentrations Responding to Decreasing Regional Emissions? Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 2017;4(3):91–7.
55. Agency UEP. National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC; 2012.
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| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 11 No 2 (2026): Spring 2026 | |
| Section | Original Research | |
| Keywords | ||
| Sand and dust storms; Sand and dust storms (SDS); Particulate matter (PM2.5 PM10 ); Iran | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Khanizadeh M, Hassanpour A, Malekpour M, Borhani Yazdi N, Noruzzade E, Shamsipour M, Niazi S, Naddafi K, Momeniha F, Abdipour A, Sharafkhani E, Hashamfirooz M, Azimi F, Hassanvand M. Temporal trend of dust storm events and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 ) in Iran’s metropolises, 2011-2022. JAPH. 2026;11(2):231-250.
