DUST STORMS IN THE VOLGOGRAD REGION, THEIR MANIFESTATION AND PREVENTION

Abstract

The article presents long-term observational materials on the frequency and intensity of dust storms on the territory of the Volgograd region. A map chart of the number of dust storms in the designated territory is made, and the reasons for their occurrence are also considered. It is shown in which cases the damage from them will be great, the thought about the necessary measures to prevent dust storms is clearly carried out. It is indicated how forest-reclamation measures should be tied to the danger that exists for this part of the region with specific soil and climatic conditions. The structure of the territory according to the wind-erosion potential is given in detail. Map charts on the soil erodibility of the Volgograd region will also be useful for choosing measures for protecting the soil from wind erosion. The dust storm climatology and the volume losses due to deflation, that were identified during dust storm manifestation in 1969, 1972, 1984 and 2015, as well as summary results of this article, undoubtedly expand and specify knowledge about deflation patterns, about mechanisms of deflationary adverse natural phenomena, reveal a number of previously unclear questions about the role of forest reclamation in areas prone to deflation and reveal how the parameters of forest belt systems need to be adapted to the specific conditions of the wind erosion development.

Keywords

• soil deflation
• dust storms
• climatology
• forest shelter belts
• distribution
• factors
• orography
• number
• recurrence rate
• erodability