INORGANIC CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF AEROSOLS SETTLING IN HAMAD TOWN,BAHRAIN FOLLOWING DUST HAZE STORMS

The inorganic chemical composition of settling particles from 10 dust storms in Hamad Town, Bahrain has been determined. These storms occurred over a 3‐year period. Meteorological conditions during the storms were examined and the storms classified, according to their trajectories, into two types: (a) a low pressure system from the Mediteranean, which traveled east into the Gulf and caused periods of disturbed weather and causing of northwesterly winds; and (b) a low pressure over Pakistan causing dry north‐westerly wind, known locally as Al‐Barah. After this period, the low pressure system declined allowing the formation of south‐easterly winds known as the Kaus. The composition of the dust storms is montonic. The settling particles are relatively enriched in Ca ²⁺, K ⁺ and SO ^2? ₄ derived from local soil, and Cl ^? from the sea.