The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued an annual report on October 19 of 2023, highlighting the frequency and consequences of sand and dust storms and examining their potential connection to climate change. This advisory also discussed the impact of poor water and land management on these phenomena.
WMO's Assessment of Sand and Dust Storms
The WMO's advisory reported that about 2,000mn tons of dust enter the atmosphere annually, causing reduced visibility and declining air quality over vast distances. While these storms have natural origins, a significant portion is attributed to inadequate water and land management practices.
The Global Dust Concentrations in 2022
According to the WMO, global annual average surface dust concentrations in 2022 slightly exceeded those in the previous year, primarily due to increased emissions from certain regions. Notable contributors to this increase included west-central Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Iranian Plateau, and northwestern China.
Identification of Sand and Dust Storm Hotspots
The advisory identified several regions with notably higher dust concentrations in the past year. These included Central and South America, much of Central Africa, Spain, the Red Sea, the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabian Sea, the Iranian Plateau, the Bay of Bengal, South Asia, the Tarim Basin, and the tropical Atlantic Ocean. These hotspots are areas where sand and dust storms occur frequently and pose significant risks to human health, transportation, agriculture, and the economy.
Impacts on Society and Environment
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas pointed out the diverse impacts of sand and dust storms on society.
“Sand and dust storms have impacts on health, transport, including aviation, land, road and rail transport, and agriculture. This has implications for human health and safety, as well as the economy,” commented WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
The Role of Climate Change
The advisory highlighted that human activities significantly influence the occurrence of sand and dust storms. Factors such as rising temperatures, drought, and increased evaporation result in reduced soil moisture, exacerbating the occurrence of these storms.
“Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and WMO reports on the state of the climate show that human activities influence the occurrence of sand and dust storms. For example, rising temperatures, drought and increased evaporation lead to a decrease in soil moisture. Combined with irrational land use, this contributes to an increase in the number of sand and dust storms,” Taalas emphasized.
Future Projections
The advisory also mentioned recent studies projecting future changes in global dust emissions under various climate warming scenarios. These studies indicated that dust emissions are expected to increase significantly by the end of this century, especially in regions like the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts in eastern Asia and Central Asia. This increase is attributed to reduced snow cover and intensified surface winds resulting from warming.
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