The characterization of haboobs and the deposition of dust in Tempe, AZ from 2005 to 2014

Dust storms known as ‘haboobs’ occur in Tempe, AZ during the North American monsoon season. This work presents a catalog of haboob occurrence over the time period 2005–2014. A classification method based on meteorological and air quality measurements is described. The major factors that distinguish haboobs events from other dust events and from background conditions are event minimum visibility, maximum wind or gust speed, and maximum PM₁₀ (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of 10 μm or less) concentration. We identified from 3 to 20 haboob events per year over the period from 2005 to 2014. The calculated annual TSP (total suspended particulate) dry deposition ranged from a low of 259 kg ha⁻¹ in 2010 to a high of 2950 kg ha⁻¹ in 2011 with a mean of 950 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The deposition of large particles (PM_>10) is greater than the deposition of PM₁₀. The TSP dry deposition during haboobs is estimated to contribute 74% of the total particulate mass deposited in Tempe.