Chemical Characterization of Aeolian Dust Deposition in Southern and Western Iran

Abstract

In the last decade, the southwestern and western provinces of Iran have been heavily affected by aeolian dust deposition. As a result, the elemental composition of soil surfaces is influenced by dust transport as well as precipitation, wind speed and direction. The relationship between daily recorded dust events and the elemental composition of the dust is studied in this paper. Strong correlations were detected between dust deposition rate from most deposition sites (G01-G10, except for G05, G06) and the dust event frequency. Correlations of different strengths have been revealed between the dust event frequencies (DEF), and the elemental classification matrix based on airborne Metal Regulations. As expected, high correlation values indicate high concentration contributions of elemental values to the aerosol, such as Na, Mn, As, Pb, from large-scale depositions in the south including Cr and V in the west. These findings also suggest that the major contributors of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Ba, and Pb in the elemental concentrations may depend on the meteorological situation and correlation magnitude are associated with elements emanating from local anthropogenic activities.