Remote sensing of desert dust over Kuwait: long-term variation

Aerosol optical measurements acquired with satellite-borne TERRA/Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor were analyzed over Kuwait. The study focuses on the seasonal variation of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and their relationship with meteorological parameters during the 7-year period from 2000 through 2007. The mean values of AOT, wind speed (V), air temperatures (T), diurnal temperature range (Delta T) and water vapor content (WVC) in the near-infrared (NIR) region were high during spring (April-May), while those of the Angstrom wavelength exponent a were low. These low values of alpha indicate the presence of large aerosol particles (dust). Spectral analysis shows a significant annual variation in the AOT and meteorological parameters. The second (semi-annual), third (4-month) and fourth (3-month) harmonics of the annual variation are also evident. The fourth harmonic is well defined in WVC (NIR) spectra. The power spectral densities of the exponent alpha, Delta T and RH have a similar spectral power similar to 1.9. The cross-correlation functions between the time series of the wavelength exponent and each of the meteorological parameters exhibit annual and biennial cycles. The atmosphere over Kuwait is relatively dust free 3 months after WVC (NIR) peaks. (C) Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.