Extreme Weather - Iraq

Western and southern Iraq is a vast desert region, as an extension of the Syrian desert, where it borders Syria, Jordan and Saudia Arabia. To the northeast is an extension of the alpine mountains that run through the Balkans and Southern Turkey. This desert region is one of the most prone to dust and sand storms in the Middle East, and studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in the last decade. The dust and sand storms are usually regional and extend west beyond Iraqi territory, and these tend to cause more economic damage and harm to human life. In 2012, the Ministry of Environment estimated that Iraq would see an average of 300 dusty days per year for the next decade. These dust storms are caused in large part by a northwestern wind (called "Shimali" in Arabic) and blow through the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys almost all year long. They blow constantly through June and July and can gust up to 100km/hr and reach thousands of meters in height. The dry winds allow for intense heat and desertification (when fertile areas become increasingly more arid).

These winds kick up the loose sand and dust of the arid region and carry them. The sand and dust storms can be defined as "as the force of wind passing over loosely held particles increases, particles of sand first start to vibrate, then to saltate." "The initial saltation of sand and particles induces a static electric field by friction," and the vertical extent is determined by the stability of the atmosphere close to the ground and the weight of the particles. There are also a number of factors caused by humans, which can include: draught, water deficiency, climatic changes, agricultural/construction operations, military operations, driving, etc.

In addition to desert living conditions, dust storms can heavily reduce visibility, layer on skin & clothes, make it difficult to breathe, find its way into food and water, and wreak havoc on buildings and machinery. Economically, they cause soil loss and remove the organic matter and nutrient-rich particles, which are the lightest and easiest to carry away by these storms.

Mitigation
The government of Iraq and neighboring countries fully recognize this environmental issue, but the regional dialogue has not been "fully sustained." The Iraqi government's inter-ministerial national councils/committees created to oversee this issue is still developing, and several UN nations are actively involved in helping Iraq's Drought Risk Management Strategy. The measures to be taken by the Iraqi government include restoration of agricultural lands and what was once called the "green zone" around the main cities. This can be achieved by using drip irrigation to save water or treated waste water. Management of water sources and reallocation can help desertification. They can also stabilize moving dunes and restore the marshes to help minimize sand and dust storms.



https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SDS%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276048930_Sand_and_dust_storm_events_in_Iraq

northwest wind called the “Shimali” (means in Arabic

language; from the north) that can rip through the Tigris

and Euphrates River valleys of central and southern Ira-

qat any time of the year, and blow almost constantly

through June and July (Figure 1). However, in August

and September it might still blow. Shimali winds can last

for several days in a row, strengthening during the day

and weakening at night, and creating devastating dust

storms