An overview of the transboundary dust events in southeastern Turkmenistan near the border of Iran (Sarakhs-Badkhyz region)

A new, significant dust storm source has been identified in the Sarakhs-Badkhyz region, spanning southeastern Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran. This previously unrecognized area, covering 100,000 km², contributes to intensifying transboundary dust events due to rising temperatures, reduced precipitation, and declining river flows (Tejen and Murghab). The study leveraged long-term spatial and statistical data (1980–2023) along with remotely sensed datasets from IRIMO, Eumetsat, and NASA to analyze these trends. Key factors include increased atmospheric circulation intensity, frontal cyclone activity, and the drying of sandy deserts—exacerbated by climate change and human-induced water depletion. Future research should focus on the socio-economic impacts of these dust storms on nearby urban regions, including Mashhad, Mary, and Herat, which house 4.35 million inhabitants.

Mansouri Daneshvar, M. R., Rasouli, S. J., & Dehqanpour Aliaqa, A. (2025). An overview of the transboundary dust events in southeastern Turkmenistan near the border of Iran (Sarakhs-Badkhyz region). Environmental Systems Research, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-025-00392-9