METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE STORM WIND AND DUST STORM OCCURRENCE IN THE ATYRAU REGION IN JANUARY 2021

Abstract

The article discusses the atmospheric processes that caused the occurrence of storm wind and a dust storm in the Atyrau region on January 14, 2021. We provide synoptic maps and satellite images, actual and forecast data, analyze in detail the synoptic situation that led to the occurrence of the dangerous phenomena, as well as the general characteristics of the formation of dust storms in the western part of Kazakhstan. In the winter period, the north-eastern part of the Caspian Sea and the entire Atyrau region are under the influence of the western ridge of the Asian (Siberian) high pressure area. The center of high pressure in the winter is located over the central part of Mongolia, in the summer - over the European territory of Russia, therefore winds with a northerly component are a frequent phenomenon in the Atyrau region. We have established that the occurrence and development of dust storms were conditioned by a complex of meteorological factors, including a strong gale wind (more than 15 m/s), shallow freezing of the soil, desiccation and dispersion of the upper layer of the soil, absence of snow cover and ice crusts, weak vegetation cover, and presence of vast open spaces. The total material damage from the observed complex of dangerous phenomena in the territory of the Atyrau region amounted to 14.5 million tenge (34 thousand dollars).