Study finds wind speeds rising across Arab region for 40 years

ANBAR, Iraq — A study published in the American Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research shows that wind speeds have risen markedly over the past four decades across the Great Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia, while declining in Canada, Siberia and Northern Europe. Researchers linked the pattern to the expansion of the Hadley cell, which transports warm air masses from tropical to subtropical regions, and the poleward shift of the subtropical jet stream driven by global warming. The study found that accelerating Arctic warming is reducing the temperature contrast between the poles and the tropics, weakening wind systems at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The change is most pronounced in winter, strengthening the Harmattan winds in West Africa, the northern winds over Iraq and the Gulf, and the Afghan winds in Central Asia. Dr. Adel Salihi, one of the researchers, said the rising wind speeds are intensifying dust storms, increasing evaporation and reducing solar panel efficiency. He noted that sustained winds of 8 to 12 meters per second could lead to losses in wheat and barley production.