| Abstract: | The climate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is characterized by a trio of distinct atmospheric
phenomena: pervasive dust storms that sweep across the landscape, dense fog that envelops the
region, and the infrequent yet intense convective systems unleashing torrential downpours. Recent
studies underscore a worrying trend of increased frequencies and intensities of these phenomena
over the Arabian Peninsula, signaling a shift in regional climatic behavior. Understanding the full
lifecycle and the consequent impacts of these meteorological phenomena is imperative for precise
weather forecasting. In this context, the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab
at Khalifa University is conducting research to study the physical processes driving these weather
phenomena, trends, and future projections by utilizing a combination of ground-based
observations, satellite products, and atmospheric modeling.
ENGEOS Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including a microwave radiometer,
dual-polarization lidar, fog monitor, atmospheric electric field sensor, radiation flux sensors,
sunphotometer, PM monitors, visibility sensor, eddy covariance system, a 10-meter
meteorological tower with multi-level measurements, soil temperature sensors, and saltation
sensors. Two major field campaigns have been conducted: one at Barakah (coastal location) and
the other at Madinat Zayed in the Empty Quarter desert (WISE-UAE), where climatological
records are ongoing. The details of the field campaign and measured parameters will be presented.
The lab's efforts also include optimizing Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model
configurations for the UAE environment and studying the dynamics and thermodynamics of
convective systems, dust storms, and fog. Additionally, the integration of Artificial Intelligence
solutions for these atmospheric studies will be presented. |
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