Influence of Land Degradation on the Local Rate of Dust Fallout in Kuwait

doi:10.4236/acs.2014.43042

Home > Journals > Earth & Environmental Sciences > ACS

ACS> Vol.4 No.3, July 2014

Open Access

Influence of Land Degradation on the Local Rate of Dust Fallout in Kuwait

Full-Text HTML XML

Download as PDF (Size:1556KB) PP. 437-446

DOI: 10.4236/acs.2014.43042 2,467 Downloads 2,975 Views Citations

Author(s) Leave a comment

Jasem M. Al-Awadhi, Ali M. Al-Dousari, Fikry I. Khalaf

Affiliation(s)

Department of Coastal and Air Pollution Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, Kuwait.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.

ABSTRACT

The rate of dust fallout was monitored during a period from August 2009 to July 2011 in protected (closed) and non-protected/open (unenclosed) areas in the northern desert of Kuwait. The dust fallout rates on degraded and protected sites were on average 18.8 and 44.1 g·m^-2·month^-1, respectively. Higher rate of dust fallout in protected area may be attributed to biologic factors that are responsible for relative abundance of fine-grained sediment accumulations (Mostly silty sand). Wind deflation of fine grained sediment fractions and development of coarse-grained surface lag deposits in degraded area may be accountable for the reduction of its potentiality for suspended dust. The study indicates the importance of the vegetation cover in regulating sediment availability for atmospheric dust emission.

KEYWORDS

Dust Fallout, Vegetation Cover, Degraded Area, Wind Deflation

Cite this paper

Al-Awadhi, J. , Al-Dousari, A. and Khalaf, F. (2014) Influence of Land Degradation on the Local Rate of Dust Fallout in Kuwait. Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, 4, 437-446. doi: 10.4236/acs.2014.43042.

References

[1]	Idso, S.B. (1976) Dust Storms. Scientific American, 235, 108-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican1076-108

[2]	Khalaf, F. and Al-Hashash, M. (1983) Aeolian Sedimentation in the North-Western Part of the Arabian Gulf. Journal of Arid Environments, 6, 319-332.

[3]	Al-Tayeb, N.T. and Jarrar, B.M. (1993) Dustfall in the City of Riyadh. Proceedings of the Industrial Air Pollution Symposium, Riyadh, 15-17 November 1993, 66-74.

[4]	Al-Dousari, A.M. and Al-Awadhi, J.M. (2012) Dust Fallout in Northern Kuwait, Major Sources and Characteristics. Kuwait Journal of Science, 39, 171-187.

[5]	Goudie, A.S. and Middleton, N.J. (2006) Desert Dust in the Global System. Springer, New York.

[6]	Nickling, W.G. (1978) Aeolian Sediment Transport during Dust Storms: Silms River Valley Yakon Territory. Canadian Journal of Earth Science, 15, 1069-1084. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e78-114

[7]	Walker, D.A. and Everett, K.R. (1991) Loess Ecosystem of Northern Alaska: Regional Gradient and Top Sequence at Prudhoe Bay. Ecological Monographs, 61, 437-464. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2937050

[8]	Yaalon, D.H. and Ganor, E. (1973) The Influence of Dust on Soils during the Quaternary. Soil Science, 116, 146-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-197309000-00003

[9]	Wells, S.G., Dohrenwend, J.C., McFadden, L.D., Turrin, B.D. and Mahrer, K.D. (1985) Late Cenozoic Landscape Evolution on Lava Flow Surfaces of the Cima Volcanic Field, Mojave Desert, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 96, 1518-1529. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1985)96<1518:LCLEOL>2.0.CO;2

[10]	Wells, S.G., McFadden, L.D. and Dohrenwend, J.C. (1987) Influence of Late Quaternary Climatic Changes on Geomorphic and Pedogenic Processes on a Desert Piedmont, Eastern Mojave Desert, California. Quaternary Research, 27, 130-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0033-5894(87)90072-X

[11]	McFadden, L.D., McDonald, E.V., Wells, S.G., Anderson, K., Quade, J. and Forman, S.L. (1998) The Vesicular Layer and Carbonate Collars of Desert Soils and Pavements: Formation, Age, and Relation to Climate Change. Geomorphology, 24, 101-145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(97)00095-0

[12]	McFadden, L.D., Wells, S.G. and Dohrenwend, J.C. (1986) Influences of Quaternary Climatic Changes on Processes of Soil Development on Desert Loess Deposits of the Cima Volcanic Field, California. Catena, 13, 361-389. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0341-8162(86)90010-X

[13]	McFadden, L.D., Jercinovich, S.G. and Wells, M.J. (1987) Influences of Aeolian and Pedogenic Processes on the Origin and Evolution of desert Pavements. Geology, 15, 504-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<504:IOEAPP>2.0.CO;2

[14]	Chadwick, O.A. and Davis, J.O. (1990) Soil-Forming Intervals Caused by Aeolian Sediment Pulses in the Lahontan Basin, Northwestern Nevada. Geology, 18, 243-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<0243:SFICBE>2.3.CO;2

[15]	McDonald, E.V., Pierson, F.B., Flerchinger, G.N. and McFadden, L.D. (1996) Application of a Soil-Water Balance Model to Evaluate the Influence of Holocene Climate Change on Calcic Soils, Mojave Desert, California, U.S.A. Geoderma, 74, 167-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(96)00070-5

[16]	Belnap, J. and Gillette, D.A. (1998) Vulnerability of Desert Biological Soil Crusts to Wind Erosion: the Influences of Crust Development, Soil Texture, and Disturbance. Journal of Arid Environments, 39, 133-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jare.1998.0388

[17]	Shachak, M. and Lovett, G.M. (1998) Atmospheric Deposition to a Desert Ecosystem and Its Implications for Management. Ecological Applications, 8, 455-463. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1998)008[0455:ADTADE]2.0.CO;2

[18]	Reynolds, R.L., Belnap, J., Reheis, M., Lamothe, P. and Luiszer, F. (2001) Aeolian Dust in Colorado Plateau Soils: Nutrient Inputs and Recent Change in Source. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98, 7123-7127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.121094298

[19]	Gurugubelli, B., Pervez, S. and Tiwari, S. (2013) Characterization and Spatiotemporal Variation of Urban Ambient Dust Fallout in Central India. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 13, 83-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2012.06.0141

[20]	Goossens, D. and Buck, B. (2009) Dust Emission by Off-road Driving: Experiments on 17 Arid Soil Types, Nevada, USA. Geomorphology, 107, 118-138. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.12.001

[21]	Satheesh, S.K. and Moorthy, K.K. (2005) Radioactive Effects of Natural Aerosols: A Review. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 2089-2110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.12.029

[22]	Khalaf, F.I. and Al-Ajmi, D. (1993) Aeolian Processes and Sand Encroachment Problems in Kuwait. Geomorphology, 6, 111-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0169-555X(93)90042-Z

[23]	Halwagy, R. and Halwagy, M. (1974) Ecological Studies on the Desert of Kuwait: II. The Vegetation. Journal of the University of Kuwait (Science), 1, 87-95.

[24]	Halwagy, R., Moustafa, A.F. and Kamel, S.M. (1982) On the Ecology of the Desert Vegetation in Kuwait. Journal of Arid Environments, 5, 95-107.

[25]	AI-Awadhi, J.M., Omer, S.A. and Misak, R.F. (2005) Land Degradation Indicators in Kuwait. Journal of Land Degradation and Development, 16, 163-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.666

[26]	Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) (1999) Soil Survey for the State of Kuwait. KISR, Kuwait.

[27]	Khalaf, F. (1989) Desertification and Aeolian Processes in the Kuwait Desert. Journal of Arid Environments, 16, 125-145.

[28]	Omar, S.A. (1991) Dynamics of Range Plants Following 10 Years of Protection in Arid Rangelands of Kuwait. Journal of Arid Environments, 21, 99-111.

[29]	Zaman, S. (1997) Effects of Rainfall and Grazing on Vegetation Yield and Cover of Two Arid Rangelands in Kuwait. Environmental Conservation, 24, 344-350. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0376892997000453

[30]	Brown, G. and Porembski, S. (1997) The Maintenance of Species Diversity by Miniature Dunes in a Sand-Depleted Haloxylon Salicornicum Community in Kuwait. Journal of Arid Environments, 37, 461-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jare.1997.0286

[31]	Brown, G. and Porembski, S. (1998) Flora and Vegetational Aspects of Miniature Dunes in a Sand-Depleted Haloxylon salicornicum Community in the Kuwait Desert. Flora, 193, 133-140.

[32]	Omar, S., Bhat, N.R., Shahid, S. and Assem, A. (2005) Land and Vegetation Degradation in War-Affected Areas in the Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve of Kuwait: A Case Study of Umm. Ar. Rimam. Journal of Arid Environments, 62, 475-490. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.01.009

[33]	Misak, R.F., Al-Awadhi, J.M. and Al-Sudairawi, M. (2001) Assessing and Controlling Land Degradation in Kuwaiti Desert Ecosystem. In: Al-Sarawi, M. and Massoud, M., Eds., The Impact of Environmental Pollution on Development in the Gulf Region, II, Environmental Public Authority, State of Kuwait, 209-223.

[34]	Shahid, S.A., Omar, S. and Al-Ghawas, S. (1999) Indicators of Desertification in Kuwait and their Possible Management. Desertification Control Bulletin, 34, 61-66.

[35]	Al-Dousari, A.M., Misak, R. and Shahid, S. (2000) Soil Compaction and Sealing in AL-Salmi Area, Western Kuwait. Journal of Land Degradation and Development, 11, 401-418. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1099-145X(200009/10)11:5<401::AID-LDR396>3.0.CO;2-4

[36]	Al-Awadhi, J.M., Misak, R. and Omer, S. (2003) The Causes and Consequences of Desertification in Kuwait: A Case Study of Land Degradation. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 62, 107-115.

[37]	Omar, S.A., Bhat, N.R., Shahid, S.A. and Asem, A. (2006) Land and Vegetation Degradation in War-Affected Areas in the Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve of Kuwait. European Journal of Scientific Research, 14, 146-158.

[38]	Al-Awadhi, J.M. (2008) Mapping Land Degradation Hazard in Kuwait: Using Delphi and AHP Methods. Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering, 35, 71-91.

[39]	Al-Awadhi, J.M. (2013) A Case Assessment of the Mechanisms Involved in Human-Induces Land Degradation in Northeastern Kuwait. Journal of Land Degradation and Development, 24, 2-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.1090

[40]	Al-Awadhi, J.M. (2001) Impact of Gravel Quarrying on the Desert Environment of Kuwait. Environmental Geology, 41, 365-371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002540100398

[41]	Al-Dousari, A.M., Al-Elaj, M., Al-Enezi, E. and Al-Shareeda, A. (2009) Origin and Characteristics of Yardangs in the Um Al-Rimam Depressions (N. Kuwait). Geomorphology, 104, 93-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.05.010

[42]	Al-Awadhi, J.M. (2005) Dust Fallout Characteristics in Kuwait: A Case Study. Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering, 32, 135-152.

[43]	Folk, R.L. (1974) Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks. Hemphill, Texas.

[44]	Al-Awadhi, J.M. (1999) Air-Flow Characteristics over Large Rough Surfaces: A Wind-Tunnel Study. Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering, 26, 355-376.

[45]	Yan, Y.C., Xu, X.L., Xin, X.P., Yang, G.X., Wang, X., Yan, R.R. and Chen, B.R. (2011) Effect of Vegetation Coverage on Aeolian Dust Accumulation in a Semiarid Steppe of Northern China. Catena, 87, 351-356. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2011.07.002