storms sand and dustAccording to the report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which is on the rise due to desertification and climate change, it increased in 2022 compared to 2021, and the concentrations of these particles in the atmosphere increased in regions such as Spain or South and Central America. ) .
These concentrations also increased in the Red Sea, the Arabian Peninsula, the Iranian Plateau, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian subcontinent, the Tarim Basin in northwestern China, or the mid-Atlantic separating the Caribbean from West Africa, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s annual report. Report on particles in the atmosphere.
Most emissions of these particles They come from desert areas in the same regionsThe document highlighted areas such as deserts in North Africa (Sahara), the Middle East, Iran and northwestern China.
“Around 2 thousand tons of dust enters the atmosphere every year. Darkening skies and poor air quality in areas thousands of kilometers away“, warns WMO, reminding that this has effects on economies, ecosystems and climate. Haze also negatively affects people’s health when it is a recurring event.
Although some of this process is natural, Mismanagement of water and land by humans alsoAccording to the UN environment agency, which predicts an increase in concentrations of these particles throughout this century in line with global warming.
Excessive use of water resources is leading to the desertification of increasingly larger areas, resulting in increased land availability for increased suspended dust.
The report specifically mentions places affected by high concentrations of sand and dust, such as the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, parts of Iran, the Mesopotamian plains of Iraq, eastern Syria and the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the Gulf. .
Equally sensitive areas, as these particles are transit routes, are, among others, the Mediterranean basin. South America or East Asia (including Japan and the Korean Peninsula) and the Caribbean, which will receive sand and dust from West Africa in 2022.
WMO prepares its report with data from four networks measuring atmospheric particles located in Barcelona (Spain), Beijing, Bridgetown (capital of the Caribbean archipelago of Barbados) and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
……….
Contact address of the environmental department:[email protected]