HR: 17:50h
AN: A44A-08 [Abstracts]
TI: A case study approach of Haboob Events over the United Arab Emirates
AU: * Kuciauskas, A P
EM: kuciauskas@nrlmry.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, 7 Grace Hopper Avenue, Stop #2, Monterey, CA 93943-5502
United States
AU: Miller, S D
EM: miller@nrlmry.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, 7 Grace Hopper Avenue, Stop #2, Monterey, CA 93943-5502
United States
AB:
Haboobs are mesoscale features of blowing dust and sand that are generated over deserts and initiated from outflow of cells
from intense thunderstorm or squall lines. These dust walls behave like density currents with heights extending to several
kilometers, average speeds of 15-20 ms-1, with time scales averaging less than 1 hour. Although Haboobs are mostly
attributed to the Khartoum in Sudan, Haboobs have also been studied in other desert regions such as the Southwest US and more
recently within the Arabian Gulf. Besides their dramatic appearance (walls of blinding dust), Haboobs develop with little
warning, and have spatial characteristics much smaller than most fine resolution mesoscale models. As a result, low-level
flight operations can be especially hazardous, especially at night. During the United Arab Emirates Unified Aerosol
Experiment (UAE2) in August-September of 2004, at least several Haboobs were visually identified over the UAE during this
time period. One such Haboob developed from afternoon convective activity along the Al Hajar mountain range in eastern UAE, a
common occurrence. Thanks in part, to a concentrated network of instrumentation available during UAE2, this report will
present additional findings of Haboob features during UAE2 using satellite imagery and a wealth of ground-based and
airborne sensors. Meteorological parameters associated with Haboob passages will be described, as well as synoptic conditions
leading to its formation. Finally, a photographic time lapse of a Haboob passage from a vertically scanning camera will be
presented to dramatize local impact.
DE: 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
DE: 0320 Cloud physics and chemistry
DE: 3329 Mesoscale meteorology
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005