Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Summertime variability of aerosols and covariates over Saudi Arabia using remote sensing

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The summer season is the longest in Saudi Arabia and thus significantly modifies the aerosol concentration in the country. Hydrometeorological parameters when exposed to and interacting with multiple source aerosols produce a radiative climatic response. This study was made to analyze the space-time dynamics of aerosol optical depth (AOD) with prevailing meteorological and surface parameters from the summer of 2003 to 2016. Level 3 daily products from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) were used. Covariates such as surface temperature, ozone, and relative humidity (RH) from AIRS, and SO2, dust column mass density (CMD), and dust surface mass concentration (SMC) were also used on a daily time scale. The spatial distribution of AOD showed high concentration (0.5–0.9) over southern and southeastern regions, whereas relatively low concentrations were present in the northern and northwestern regions. For trend observation of AOD, the Mann-Kendall trend test was used, which manifested an increasing trend in the southern and southwestern regions, whereas a decreasing trend in the northern and central regions of Saudi Arabia was observed. Correlation analysis was performed between AOD and meteorological parameters, in which slightly similar patterns were observed for the same variables. Wavelet analysis displays significant periodicity in the 16–64 band. The wavelet coherency analysis provides the abundance of in-phase, anti-phase, leading, and lagging situations in the 16–64 periodic band, along with a few interjections of the 64–128 periodic band. Through this, an obvious difference was concluded in space-time patterns between MODIS and MISR datasets. These findings may prove useful for short-term and long-term studies including oscillating features of AOD and covariates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from €39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

Availability of data and materials

Not required.

References

  • Abid, Muhammad Adnan et al. 2018. “ENSO relationship to summer rainfall variability and its potential predictability over Arabian Peninsula Region.” npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 1(1): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-017-0003-7.

  • Aguiar-Conraria Luís, Soares Maria Joana (2014) The continuous wavelet transform: moving beyond uni- and bivariate analysis. J Econ Surveys 28(2):344–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguiar-Conraria Luís, Azevedo Nuno, Soares Maria Joana (2008) Using wavelets to decompose the time-frequency effects of monetary policy. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications 387(12):2863–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander Lisa V et al (2006) Global observed changes in daily climate extremes of temperature and precipitation. J Geophysical Res Atmos 111(5):1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Alharbi Badr H, Alduwais Abdulilah K, Alhudhodi Abdulrahman H (2017) An analysis of the spatial distribution of O3 and its precursors during summer in the urban atmosphere of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Atmos Pollut Res 8(5):861–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2017.02.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Jahdali Mohammed O, Bin Bisher AS (2008) Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Accumulation in soil and plant’s leaves around an oil refinery: a case study from Saudi Arabia. Am J Environ Sci 4(1):84–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Almazroui, Mansour. 2020. “Changes in temperature trends and extremes over Saudi Arabia for the period 1978-2019.” Advances in Meteorology 2020.

  • Almazroui M, Hasanean HM (2020) Saudi Arabia’s summer surface air temperature and its association with circulation patterns. Int J Climat 40(13):5727–5743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altaratz, O., R. Z. Bar-Or, U. Wollner, and I. Koren. 2013. “Relative humidity and its effect on aerosol optical depth in the vicinity of convective clouds.” Environmental Research Letters 8(3).

  • Alwadei Sahar, Farahat Ashraf, Ahmed Moataz, Kambezidis Harry D (2022) Prediction of solar irradiance over the Arabian Peninsula: satellite data, radiative transfer model, and machine learning integration approach. Appl Sci (Switzerland) 12(2):1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Alyemeni Mohammed Nasser, Almohisen Ibrahem A.A. (2014) Traffic and industrial activities around Riyadh cause the accumulation of heavy metals in legumes: a case study. Saudi J Biol Sci 21(2):167–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2013.09.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arfan Ali Md et al (2020) Classification of aerosols over Saudi Arabia from 2004–2016. Atmos Environ 241:117785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117785

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Attada Raju et al (2019) Surface air temperature variability over the Arabian Peninsula and its links to circulation patterns. Int J Climatol 39(1):445–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barik Gunadhar et al (2020) A synergy of linear model and wavelet analysis towards space-time characterization of aerosol optical depth (AOD) during pre-monsoon season (2007–2016) over Indian Sub-Continent. J Atmos and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 211(September):105478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2020.105478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behrendt Tanja et al (2013) Solar spectral irradiance derived from satellite data: a tool to improve thin film PV performance estimations? Solar Energy 98:100–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2013.05.011

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bian, Qijing. 2018. “Supplement of sources of PM 2 . 5 Carbonaceous Aerosol in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia.” : 3969–85.

  • Butt Mohsin Jamil, Assiri Mazen Ebraheem, Ali Md Arfan (2017) Assessment of AOD variability over Saudi Arabia using MODIS deep blue products. Environ Pollut 231:143–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.07.104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Boris B et al (2013) Empirical relationship between particulate matter and aerosol optical depth over Northern Tien-Shan, Central Asia. Air Quality, Atmos and Health 6(2):385–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi Gwangyong et al (2009) Changes in means and extreme events of temperature and precipitation in the Asia-Pacific Network Region, 1955–2007. Int J Climatol 29(13):1906–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colarco Peter R et al (2014) Impact of radiatively interactive dust aerosols in the NASA GEOS-5 climate model: sensitivity to dust particle shape and refractive index. J Geophysical Res 119(2):753–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Dey Sagnik, Di Girolamo Larry (2010) A climatology of aerosol optical and microphysical properties over the Indian subcontinent from 9 years (2000–2008) of multiangle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) data. J Geophysical Res Atmos 115(15):1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Diner David J et al (2005) The value of multiangle measurements for retrieving structurally and radiatively consistent properties of clouds, aerosols, and surfaces. Remote Sensing of Environ 97(4):495–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehsan Muhammad Azhar et al (2017) Skill and predictability in multimodel ensemble forecasts for Northern Hemisphere regions with dominant winter precipitation. Climate Dynamics 48(9–10):3309–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehsan Muhammad Azhar et al (2019) Potential predictability of Arabian Peninsula summer surface air temperature in the North American multimodel ensemble. Climate Dynamics 53(7–8):4249–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-019-04784-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farahat, Ashraf, Hesham El-Askary, and Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani. 2015. “Study of aerosols’ characteristics and dynamics over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using a multisensor approach combined with ground observations.” Advances in Meteorology 2015.

  • Farahat A, El-Askary H, Adetokunbo P, Fuad AT (2016a) Analysis of aerosol absorption properties and transport over North Africa and the Middle East using AERONET data. Annales Geophysicae 34(11):1031–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farahat A, El-Askary H, Umran Dogan A (2016b) Aerosols size distribution characteristics and role of precipitation during dust storm formation over Saudi Arabia. Aerosol Air Qual Res 16(10):2523–2534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis Diana et al (2021) Summertime dust storms over the Arabian Peninsula and impacts on radiation, circulation, cloud development and rain. Atmos Res 250:105364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gadedjisso-tossou, Agossou, and Komlavi I I Adjegan. 2021. “Rainfall and temperature trend analysis by Mann – Kendall test and significance for rainfed cereal yields In.” : 1–20.

  • Gandham, Harikishan et al. 2020. “Major changes in extreme dust events dynamics over the Arabian Peninsula during 2003–2017 driven by atmospheric conditions.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 125(24).

  • Gharibzadeh, Maryam, Abbasali Aliakbari Bidokhti, and Khan Alam. 2021. “The interaction of ozone and aerosol in a semi-arid region in the Middle East: ozone formation and radiative forcing implications.” Atmospheric Environment 245(June 2020): 118015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118015.

  • Guo Jing et al (2014) Trend analysis of the aerosol optical depth from fusion of MISR and MODIS retrievals over China. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environ Sci 17(1):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Jassim MS, Coskuner G, Zaid M, Malik U (2022) Analysis of aerosol optical depth over Bahrain and Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia based on MERRA-2 model. Int J Environ Sci Technol 19(2):863–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02987-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn Ralph A et al (2005) Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) global aerosol optical depth validation based on 2 years of coincident Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations. J Geophysical Res D: Atmos 110(10):1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Karmeshu, Neha. 2012. “ScholarlyCommons trend detection in annual temperature & precipitation using the Mann Kendall test – a case study to assess climate change on select states in the Northeastern United States Trend Detection in Annual Temperature & Precipitation Using the M.”

  • Kendall, Title, Rank Correlation, Mann-Kendall Trend Test, and Author A I Mcleod. 2022. “Package ‘ Kendall ’ NeedsCompilation Yes.”

  • Klingmüller Klaus et al (2016) Aerosol optical depth trend over the Middle East. Atmos Chem and Phys 16(8):5063–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Jing et al (2020) Science of the total environment impacts of meteorology and vegetation on surface dust concentrations in Middle Eastern countries. Sci Total Environ 712:136597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Jinglong, Ge Xiangyu, He Qing, Abbas Alim (2021) Aerosol optical depth (AOD): spatial and temporal variations and association with meteorological covariates in Taklimakan Desert, China. PeerJ 9:1–22

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Rong et al. 2020. “Long-Term (2005-2017) View of atmospheric pollutants in Central China using multiple satellite observations.” Remote Sensing 12(6).

  • Lin Chin An et al (2019) Satellite-derived correlation of SO2, NO2, and aerosol optical depth with meteorological conditions over East Asia from 2005 to 2015. Remote Sensing 11(15):1–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Qiong et al (2019) Effects of aerosols on the surface ozone generation via a study of the interaction of ozone and its precursors during the summer in Shanghai, China. Sci Total Environ 675(2):235–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meehl, Gerald A, and Claudia Tebaldi. 2004. “Meehl2004_More_Intense_More_Frequent_and_longer_lasting_heat_waves_in_21st_century.” 305(August): 994–98.

  • Mielonen T et al. (2016) Temperature-dependence of aerosol optical depth over the Southeastern US. Atmos Chem Phys 1–28. http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/acp-2016-625/.

  • Mishchenko Michael I et al (2010) Toward unified satellite climatology of aerosol properties. J Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 111(4):540–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nazrul Islam M et al (2015) Long-term changes in seasonal temperature extremes over Saudi Arabia during 1981–2010. Int J Climatol 35(7):1579–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng Daniel Hui, Loong Ruimin Li, Raghavan Srivatsan V, Liong Shie Yui (2017) Investigating the relationship between aerosol optical depth and precipitation over Southeast Asia with relative humidity as an influencing factor. Scientific Reports 7(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-10858-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otaibi, Mohammed Al et al. 2019. “Long-term aerosol trends and variability over Central Saudi Arabia using optical characteristics from solar village AERONET measurements.” Atmosphere 10(12).

  • Ramachandran, S., Sayantan Ghosh, Amit Verma, and P. K. Panigrahi. 2013. “Multiscale periodicities in aerosol optical depth over India.” Environmental Research Letters 8(1).

  • Rashid, Irfan Ur, Mansour Almazroui, Sajjad Saeed, and Rana Muhammad Atif. 2020. “Analysis of extreme summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia and the association with large-scale atmospheric circulation.” Atmospheric Research 231.

  • Roy S. Sen (2008) Impact of aerosol optical depth on seasonal temperatures in India: a spatio-temporal analysis. Int J Remote Sensing 29(3):727–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed TM, Al-Dashti H, Spyrou C (2014) Aerosol’s optical and physical characteristics and direct radiative forcing during a shamal dust storm, a case study. Atmos Chem and Phys 14(7):3751–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalaby A, Rappenglueck B, Eltahir EAB (2015) The climatology of dust aerosol over the Arabian Peninsula. Atmos Chem and Phys Discussions 15(2):1523–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Si, Yidan et al. 2017. “Assessment and improvement of MISR Angstrom exponent and single-scattering albedo products using AERONET data in China.” Remote Sensing 9(7).

  • Srivastava AK et al (2008) Aerosol optical depth, ozone and water vapor measurements over Gadanki, a tropical station in Peninsular India. Aerosol and Air Quality Res 8(4):459–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stirnberg, Roland, Jan Cermak, and Hendrik Andersen. 2018. “An analysis of factors influencing the relationship between satellite-derived AOD and ground-level PM10.” Remote Sensing 10(9).

  • Tanaka Taichu Y, Chiba Masaru (2006) A numerical study of the contributions of dust source regions to the global dust budget. Global and Planetary Change 52(1–4):88–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Ming, Bo Huang, and Qingqing He. 2017. “An evaluation of four MODIS collection 6 aerosol products in a humid subtropical region.” Remote Sensing 9(11).

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge GIOVANNI-NASA for providing data products.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Remote Sensing, GIS and Climatic Research Lab (National Center of GIS and Space Applications), Centre for Remote Sensing, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

    Salman Tariq, Hafsa Shahzad, Usman Mehmood & Zia ul-Haq

  2. Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

    Salman Tariq

  3. University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

    Usman Mehmood

Authors
  1. Salman Tariq
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hafsa Shahzad
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Usman Mehmood
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zia ul-Haq
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Salman Tariq conceptualizes the work. Hafsa Shahzad made maps and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salman Tariq.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

Not required.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tariq, S., Shahzad, H., Mehmood, U. et al. Summertime variability of aerosols and covariates over Saudi Arabia using remote sensing. Air Qual Atmos Health 16, 327–340 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01276-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01276-y

Keywords

Profiles

  1. Salman Tariq View author profile