title: Increase in dust storm related PM10 concentrations: A time series analysis of 2001-2015.
abstract: Over the last decades, changes in dust storms characteristics have been observed in different parts of the world. The changing frequency of dust storms in the southeastern Mediterranean has led to growing concern regarding atmospheric PM10 levels. A classic time series additive model was used in order to describe and evaluate the changes in PM10 concentrations during dust storm days in different cities in Israel, which is located at the margins of the global dust belt. The analysis revealed variations in the number of dust events and PM10 concentrations during 2001-2015. A significant increase in PM10 concentrations was identified since 2009 in the arid city of Beer Sheva, southern Israel. Average PM10 concentrations during dust days before 2009 were 406, 312, and 364 μg m(-3) (median 337, 269,302) for Beer Sheva, Rehovot (central Israel) and Modi'in (eastern Israel), respectively. After 2009 the average concentrations in these cities during dust storms were 536, 466, and 428 μg m(-3) (median 382, 335, 338), respectively. Regression analysis revealed associations between PM10 variations and seasonality, wind speed, as well as relative humidity. The trends and periodicity are stronger in the southern part of Israel, where higher PM10 concentrations are found. Since 2009 dust events became more extreme with much higher daily and hourly levels. The findings demonstrate that in the arid area variations of dust storms can be quantified easier through PM10 levels over a relatively short time scale of several years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel. Electronic address: krasnovh@post.bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krasnov
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel. Electronic address: katra@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel. Electronic address: friger@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friger
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002947:Cities; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D007557:Israel; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013995:Time; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Arid zone; Dust storms; PM(10); Time series analysis; Trend