A Study of Spatial and Temporal Variations of Climatic Variables during Sand and Dust Storm Events in Riyadh Using in-Situ Observations

Abstract

This study examines the increasing incidence of dust events in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the significance of understanding climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. The objective is to analyze the relationship between these variables and dust occurrences from 2007 to 2023, identifying spatial and temporal patterns. A multiple linear regression model was employed to assess data from the National Center for Meteorology, chosen for its effectiveness in uncovering correlations. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between temperature and dust events, where a one-unit increase in temperature leads to a rise of 0.186 dust events. In contrast, increased atmospheric pressure and precipitation result in decreases of 0.099 and 0.253 dust occurrences, respectively, while higher wind speed reduces dust events by 0.457. Over the study period, Riyadh averaged 252 dust events annually from 2007 to 2022, with a notable decline to approximately 47 events in 2023. The highest frequency of dust events occurred in spring and summer, particularly in April and June. The findings highlight the complex interplay between climatic factors and dust storm dynamics, offering valuable insights for addressing this environmental challenge and suggesting avenues for future research.