Shahid Beheshti University Advanced Environmental Sciences 3115-7173 22 2 2024 06 21 Analyzing the Trend of Changes in the Dust Storm Index (DSI) and Its Relationship with the Meteorological Drought in the Arid Climate (Case Study: Semnan Province) Analyzing the Trend of Changes in the Dust Storm Index (DSI) and Its Relationship with the Meteorological Drought in the Arid Climate (Case Study: Semnan Province) 289 304 104333 10.48308/envs.2024.1369 FA Ebrahim Yousefi Mobarhan Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, Semnan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Semnan, Iran Ali Khaleghi Department of Desertification, Faculty of Desertology, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran Journal Article 2024 01 13 Introduction: Dust is a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions. One of the factors that play a role in the occurrence of this phenomenon is the change in weather conditions, which leads to drought, and the drying of lakes and rivers has caused crises such as sandstorms. This phenomenon leads to negative effects on agriculture, water and soil pollution, and respiratory diseases, as well as environmental and social challenges such as reduced visibility and road accidents. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between the DSI dust index and SPI standardized precipitation drought index in Semnan Province. Material and Methods: The studied area of Semnan Province is located in the southern region of the Alborz Mountain range. To investigate the effect of drought on the amount of dust, the daily data of dust, monthly rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and evapotranspiration of five synoptic stations of Semnan Province within a period of 15 years (2003-2017) were used on an annual scale. During a 15-year period, the drought storm index (DSI) was determined for the synoptic stations using the dust storm index, and then the cumulative DSI index was calculated. Afterwards, statistical and experimental evaluations was done on annual fluctuations to identify potential trends. Also, experiment and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation of standard precipitation index and dust storms, and Arc GIS software was used for zoning. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the average annual temperature in the region has increased from 2003 to 2017. This rapid warming has caused drought and as a result, temperature, evaporation and transpiration have also increased and led to a decrease in rainfall. A month-by-month survey of wind speed in different stations showed that there is a possibility of dust in the province in the months of June and July when the maximum wind speed prevails. On the contrary, the months of December and January experienced the least occurrence of dust. The annual changes of DSI (2003 to 2017) showed an irregular shape and do not have a trend. Thus, in 2011, the intensity of dust was high and decreased in the following year, and the same was observed in 2016. According to the SPI index, Semnan Province was in the normal drought category with a score of 0.59. The in-depth analysis of the correlation chart between the standardized rainfall indices and DSI showed that the DSI has increased along with the severity of drought during the study period and there is a good correlation between the DSI index and the meteorological drought in the region, so that when there was a drought period, the value of DSI decreased and when it was a drought period, the value of the dust index increased. However, there is no significant relationship between these two indicators (p =0.07 and R2=0.22) during the 15-year research period. Conclusion: Our findings indicated an increase in dust from the west to the east of the province due to the increase in average dust storm days. Correlation results between SPI and DSI index showed that although DSI index increased during the analyzed period along with the severity of drought, the correlation between the two was not significant. However, the DSI index trend pattern was consistent with the drought pattern trend. Finally, the correlation between drought and DSI has always fluctuated according to droughts. Introduction: Dust is a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions. One of the factors that play a role in the occurrence of this phenomenon is the change in weather conditions, which leads to drought, and the drying of lakes and rivers has caused crises such as sandstorms. This phenomenon leads to negative effects on agriculture, water and soil pollution, and respiratory diseases, as well as environmental and social challenges such as reduced visibility and road accidents. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between the DSI dust index and SPI standardized precipitation drought index in Semnan Province. Material and Methods: The studied area of Semnan Province is located in the southern region of the Alborz Mountain range. To investigate the effect of drought on the amount of dust, the daily data of dust, monthly rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and evapotranspiration of five synoptic stations of Semnan Province within a period of 15 years (2003-2017) were used on an annual scale. During a 15-year period, the drought storm index (DSI) was determined for the synoptic stations using the dust storm index, and then the cumulative DSI index was calculated. Afterwards, statistical and experimental evaluations was done on annual fluctuations to identify potential trends. Also, experiment and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation of standard precipitation index and dust storms, and Arc GIS software was used for zoning. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the average annual temperature in the region has increased from 2003 to 2017. This rapid warming has caused drought and as a result, temperature, evaporation and transpiration have also increased and led to a decrease in rainfall. A month-by-month survey of wind speed in different stations showed that there is a possibility of dust in the province in the months of June and July when the maximum wind speed prevails. On the contrary, the months of December and January experienced the least occurrence of dust. The annual changes of DSI (2003 to 2017) showed an irregular shape and do not have a trend. Thus, in 2011, the intensity of dust was high and decreased in the following year, and the same was observed in 2016. According to the SPI index, Semnan Province was in the normal drought category with a score of 0.59. The in-depth analysis of the correlation chart between the standardized rainfall indices and DSI showed that the DSI has increased along with the severity of drought during the study period and there is a good correlation between the DSI index and the meteorological drought in the region, so that when there was a drought period, the value of DSI decreased and when it was a drought period, the value of the dust index increased. However, there is no significant relationship between these two indicators (p =0.07 and R2=0.22) during the 15-year research period. Conclusion: Our findings indicated an increase in dust from the west to the east of the province due to the increase in average dust storm days. Correlation results between SPI and DSI index showed that although DSI index increased during the analyzed period along with the severity of drought, the correlation between the two was not significant. However, the DSI index trend pattern was consistent with the drought pattern trend. Finally, the correlation between drought and DSI has always fluctuated according to droughts.

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