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

doi:10.4236/acs.2014.43042

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

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DOI: 10.4236/acs.2014.43042 2,811 Downloads 3,451 Views Citations

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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.

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