Monitoring Dust at Cairo City from Aeronet Data

E.G.H. Hassan

Egyptian Meteorological Authority, Cairo, Egypt; +20-12-7404-7141, E-mail: eman.hamza69@yahoo.com

This study is based on an analysis of available meteorological data from ground stations an addition to AERONET data. Number of severe dust storms, originating from western arid and desert regions, affect the whole during the season (March–May). Pronounced changes in the aerosol optical parameters, derived from AERONET, have been observed over Cairo University stationduring period (2004–2005). Monthly average values of aerosol optical depth (AOD) showed a pronounced temporal trend, with a maximum AOD during winter and the transition season (spring) at two sites urban areas. Variation of Angstrom exponent α with the AOD was clear and the α value depends on the spectral range used in its determination. The data were compared against output from WRF model and meteorological observations.

Figure 1. Top: Monthly average mass concentration of dust aerosol

Bottom: Temporal variation of TIIDS in Cairo.