Qualitative Analysis of Changing Procedure between Meteorological Parameters and Dust Occurrence in Kermanshah, Iran

Background Aims of the Study: Due to widespread dust-storms in the western regions of Iran and the significant role of meteorological parameters in formation and control of these storms, this study aimed to explore the correlation between meteorological parameters and dust-storm occurrences in the western part of Iran. Materials Methods: In this cross-sectional study, meteorological parameters of temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, prevailing wind velocity and direction were selected and their relationships with visibility below 1000 m as well the number of recorded dusty days in meteorological stations in monthly and annually scales were analyzed, using multivariate linear regression in Kermanshah province, Iran. Results: Sarpol-e Zahab, Ravansar, Kermanshah and Eslamabad-e Gharb stations were characterized by 148, 111, 107 and 60 days with visibility below 1000 m, respectively. In the last decade, the highest and the lowest number of dusty days for all stations have occurred in spring and autumn with a total of 1548 and 216 days, respectively. Also, in all stations, the lowest precipitation (4.5 mm) was observed in summer. Conclusions: According to the results, non-concurrence of season with stormy days (spring), with season with the lowest precipitation (summer), indicated most dust storms are from non-local sources among all stations. Due to large scale dust-storms and their non-local sources, providing a comprehensive long-term plan for identifying this phenomenon among all affected regions seems to be essential.