Ali M. Al-Dousari

Physical properties of aeolian sediments within major dune corridor in Kuwait

A total of 212 sand samples were collected from aeolian surface sediments in a major dune corridor, northwestern Kuwait. Five main physical properties were taken into consideration in analyzing aeolian samples, namely color, shape, roundness, particle morphometry, and surface area. The analysis of quartz particles by the scanning electron microscope shows the influence of transportation on the microfeatures of individual particles. The surface deposits are dominantly unimodal and occasionally bimodal. It is obvious that coarse and medium sand are the dominant size fractions within aeolian deposits. The results according to the Munsell color system between downwind and upwind values show no variations. Also, the average percentages of roundness subclasses for upwind and downwind samples are similar (6.7%). The average values (area, equivalent diameter, perimeter, and elongation) for aeolian samples in downwind are slightly higher than in upwind and Al-Dibdibba Formation samples, but the values overlap at 1 standard deviation. The interrelationship diagrams show that the shapes of the particles within samples in the three groups are running in the same trend. In general, the northwestern (upwind) particles show more mechanical and chemical features compared with southeastern particles (downwind). The slight variation between aeolian (upwind and downwind) samples is attributed to the transportation effect of these particles. This led to a conclusion, based on the overall results of physical properties, that the coarse and medium particles (about 80% of the whole aeolian sample) are dominantly derived from local sources.

Preface to the Dust Topical Collection

The amount of dust is continuously varying, and this very much is because the planet Earth is alive. Dust is more than a microscopic object, instead it is the product of a process, and there are several processes occurring on Earth, from environmental to anthropogenic. Dust has inspired many artists in songs (e.g., BCities in Dust^ by Siouxie and The Banshees, and BThe Great Dust Storm^ by Woody Guthrie) and movies (e.g., BMission Impossible 4^ by Brad Bird, and BPompeii^ by Paul Anderson). Micrometric solid particles can generally be considered as dust, and this broad definition gives an idea of how dust can globally impact the Earth. As examples, dust from the Sahara Desert can easily reach the Amazonia Forest during big storms, and fine volcanic ash injected at stratospheric levels can tour all around the planet. In 2011, a North African dust outbreak affected Europe, from th e I b e r i a n Pen i n s u l a t o G r e a t B r i t a i n a nd Scandinavia. Dust is part of the ecological systems on Earth, and the topic was recently discussed during the DUST2014 Conference held in Castellaneta Marina, Italy in June 2014, and chaired by Prof. Saverio Fiore from CNR, Italy. Following the great success of that international conference on atmospheric dust, we decided to contribute with the present Dust Topical Collection in the Arabian Journal of Geosciences, edited by Springer. This special volume is unique in collecting 23 peer-reviewed original papers on dust research, and in presenting the results from several different perspectives and approaches in geosciences: environmental, ecological, atmospheric, volcanic, aerosol, meteorological, industrial, powder technology, urban, chemical, health, legislative, botanic, and sport. The scientific interest to conjugate all these aspects in the same volume extends our motivation emerged from the DUST2014 Conference, and also supplements the need to fully address multiple investigation approaches (experimental, mathematical, laboratory, field observation, satellite image analysis) and applications (environmental, anthropogenic), which complement each other. We welcome in this volume contributions received from all five continents, with a more devotion to the Middle East and Euro-Mediterranean Area, which are particularly sensitive to silica dust from desert. We are confident that this topical collection will help updating the state-of-the-art on dust and its positive and negative impact on the environment, people, socio-economic activities, and industrial processes. We acknowledge in advance all readers, and hope that this volume will open new collaborative directions on dust research in the future. This article is part of the Topical Collection on DUST

Rehabilitation Soils with Date Palm Mulching Treatments

Kuwait is located in hyper arid desert environment. This geographical location and irrational human activities accelerate the expansion of land degradation problem. In order to rehabilitate the degraded areas it is necessary to use soil and water resources in sustainable manner. Owing to these reasons it is essential to use appropriate methods based on the scientific diagnostics of the problem. It is compulsory to identify, specify and test different efficient, cost-effective and environment friendly sound sustainable sand control measures such as, semi-circular bunds, square micro catchment and checker board palm leaves to rehabilitate degraded lands in Liyah refilled quarries. To evaluate the impact of rehabilitation method through mulching with date palm leaves soil samples were collected (control and rehabilitation sites with square micro catchment) prior to the implementation plan and post completion of the project (three years). In this study will be highlighted on detail the results of using square micro catchment and with short brief descriptions on other water harvesting techniques. The results showed an improvement of physical soil properties after the application of these techniques. Soil fertility increased through increasing the quantity of fine and very fine sand. The soil moisture at the surface soil increased from 0.085% to 1.62% after the treatment. The untreated soil has high bulk density about 2 g/cm and low porosity about 27%. However, after the soil was ploughed and mulched the bulk density decreased to 0.03 g/cm. And porosity improved 98%. This study conserved the irrigation water through reducing the proportion of soil evaporation, in addition to the creation of optimum condition for plant growth. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of using organic mulch date palm leaves with water harvesting techniques on the physical and biological properties of degraded soil in Liyah area.

Restoration and Conservation of Deteriorated Arid Land by a Native Thorny Shrub Lycium shawii

Land degradation is of great concern in the desert environment of Kuwait, as it has a negative impact on the natural resources. In response to this situation, Kuwait conserves their natural environment by setting aside areas of significant natural ecosystem, such as wild life center at the Liyah area. The area suffered during the past four decades from severe environmental pressures due to the excessive exploitation of natural resources of sand and gravel as well as overgrazing and military activities. Re-vegetation and restoration programs were applied in the degraded areas in Liyah in December 2003. A large variety of native plants were used for the restoration, however, in this research, only one native perennial drought resistant plant Lycium shawii (Awsaj) was highlighted. Tissue cultured thorny shrub planted at experimental site showed high adaptation on gravel hill side with harsh field condition. Their survival rate was 100% under drip irrigation only 10% was the mortality rate due to improper fixation of irrigation system. The average length of the main stem and the number of branches gradually increased by year from 42 cm with three branches in 2011 to 170 cm with seven branches in 2014. Since Lycium shrubs have the ability to grow in severely degraded areas, with extreme condition of prolonged drought, high temperature and poor nutrient soil as well as their ability to form nabkha, it is considered to be most suitable shrub used for rehabilitation program at Liyah area.