An Arab study revealed that winds have intensified in the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia, while they have declined in Canada, Siberia and Northern Europe over the past four decades.
The study, published in the American Geophysical Society's journal "Geophysical Research," explained that these changes could directly affect droughts, dust storms, forest fires, as well as solar and wind energy projects in the Arab region.
According to researchers, the area of intensified winds extends from the Sahara Desert in the west, through the Arabian Peninsula and the Iranian Plateau, to the deserts of Central Asia. This is linked to the expansion of the Hadley Cell, an atmospheric circulation system that transports warm air from the tropics to the subtropics, coinciding with the movement of the subtropical jet stream towards higher latitudes due to global warming.
In contrast, the accelerating rise in temperatures in the Arctic is reducing the temperature difference between the pole and the tropics, which weakens low-pressure systems and their associated winds over Canada, Siberia, and northern Europe.
These shifts become more pronounced during the winter, as the Harmattan winds intensify in West Africa (a dry, dust-laden seasonal wind that blows from the Sahara towards West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea), the north winds over Iraq and the Gulf, and the Afghan winds in Central Asia.
Dr. Adel Al-Salehi, one of the researchers involved in the study, said that stronger winds could lead to more dust storms and exacerbate drought, as well as increase evaporation rates and water demand in arid and semi-arid regions. He added that increased dust could reduce the efficiency of solar panels and raise their maintenance costs, while stronger winds could place additional loads on wind power plants.
The effects may extend to agriculture, as winds with speeds ranging between 8 and 12 meters per second, if they continue for long hours, can cause "crop lodging" and lead to losses in wheat and barley production.
The study also observed a similar variation in Europe, with winds intensifying in the south of the continent and the Mediterranean basin, and weakening in the north. Egyptian researcher Essam Heggy stated that general averages may mask significant regional shifts, emphasizing the need for adaptation plans that take into account the specific characteristics of each region, from the Mediterranean basin to the Gulf and North Africa.
