As spring approaches, the chances of the region being exposed to Khamaseen depressions increase. What are these depressions and how do they affect the weather?

Arab Weather - As spring approaches, the chances of the region being affected by Khamasin depressions are gradually increasing, as this season is a transitional period that witnesses noticeable weather changes. It is known that spring brings with it weather fluctuations and the region begins to be affected by air depressions coming from the African Sahara, which are known as Khamasin depressions. These depressions are characterized by a sudden rise in temperatures, accompanied by dry winds that lead to dust and dirt. These depressions can also contribute to a drop in temperatures after a period of warmth, which causes weather and temperature fluctuations.

What is the Khamaseen depression?

It is a type of thermal air depression that is active in the spring. Khamasin air depressions usually form in the Algerian desert east of the Atlas Mountains, but the places where they form differ. Sometimes Khamasin air depressions can form in Libyan lands.

This type of depression is formed as a result of the high heating of the land (the surface of the Earth). In the spring, temperatures in the north of the African continent begin to rise as the surface of the Earth heats up. Due to the difference in specific heat between land and water, the surface of the Mediterranean Sea remains cold, and the land becomes warmer. As a result, the air on land begins to expand, its weight decreases, and the atmospheric pressure decreases, announcing the formation of a Khamaseen depression in the Great African Desert.

What are the paths taken by the Khamaseen depressions?

After the formation of the Khamasin depressions, there are three paths that they can take. The first path is for these depressions to continue moving towards northern Libya, completing their path directly towards the Levant. Here, their effects on the Levant are very clear.

The second path is that the Khamaseen depressions will continue to move within the African Sahara Desert until they reach Egyptian lands and then continue their path towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Levant will be indirectly affected by them.

The third path is for the Khamasin depressions to break free from the African continent towards the south of the European continent and Turkey. In this case, they attract a cold air mass and the Khamasin depressions then turn from hot to rainy and cold frontal depressions that affect the places they pass through.

What is the period of activity of the Khamaseen depressions and why are they called by this name?

This type of depression is called "Khamasin" because its period of activity extends from the beginning of the spring solstice on March 21 of each year until May 10 of each year. Khamasin depressions may begin their activity before the specified date from one year to the next, and are then called "semi-Khamasin" depressions.