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An Investigation on Atmospheric Dust Which Transport to the Persian Gulf
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Ramin Ezzati   |
| , ezati2000@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: (14642 Views) |
| The Persian Gulf is under the influence of sporadic dust transportation from desert sources in North Africa
(The Great Sahara) and the Middle East (Arabian Peninsula) particulary during spring and autumn.
Mineral dust originated from these arid regions has characteristic of redish yellow-redish brown color due
to its high iron oxide content. Following atmospheric transport, mineral dust settles by either dry or wet
(washout or rainout) deposition mechanisms. Precipitation samples collected at Bandar Abbas on the
North of Persian Gulf coast of Islamic Republic of Iran during the period of December 2006-December
2007 have been investigated with respect to their red dust contents. The backward air mass trajectories
corresponding to the rainy days were analyzed to determine the potential source regions of red dust
transported to the Persian Gulf. Approximatley,%25 of the total precipitation samples can be evaluated as
“red rain”. The mean electrical conductivity and the volume weighted mean “Al” concentration of red rain
was found to be approximatley seven times and five times higher than normal rain, recpectively, while the
dissolution of the calcite in dust caused an order of magnitude decrease in volume weighted mean
hydrogen ion concentration of red rain, by neutralizing (buffering) the acidity of rainwater. Due to the
dissolution of atmospheric CO2 in rainwater, natural precipitation is slightly asidic (pH=5.6). In this
research, the volume weighted mean pH values were calculated to be 6.09 for normal rain and 7.27 for red
rain. Using Al concentration of precipitation samples, wet deposition flux of mineral dust during 2007 was
found to be 2.13 g m-2 yr-1. If dry deposition flux is added to this value, a total flux of 4.84 g m-2 yr-1 is
found for atmospherically transported mineral dust. |
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| Keywords: Persian Gulf, Bandar Abbas, Suspenssions, Air pollution, Minerals |
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Full-Text [PDF 117 kb]
(2961 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research/ Original/ Regular Article |
Received: 2012/03/10 | Revised: 2012/03/10 | Accepted: 2016/10/18 | ePublished: 2016/10/18
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