The Middle East and North Africa experience significant economic losses, estimated at $13 billion annually, due to increasing sand and dust storms, which negatively impact agriculture, infrastructure, and health. Hossein Hashemi, an Associate Professor in Water Resource Engineering at Lund University, is researching the causes and trends of these storms, utilizing artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies for effective monitoring. His work focuses on the high-density dust sources located primarily in Iraq and along the Syria-Iraq border, correlating the relationships between war, land use, and the exacerbation of dust storms.
Hashemi’s research highlights the role of climate change and human activities—such as abandoned agricultural land and conflicts—in increasing dust storm frequency. Additionally, he is studying the ancient qanat system, a sustainable water harvesting method, as a potential solution to counteract these environmental challenges and mitigate risks to biodiversity and food security. The project emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach, integrating socio-political and economic perspectives with ecological and technical knowledge. Overall, this work aims to address the pressing issue of resource depletion and propose nature-based solutions to bolster water supply and environment resilience amid ongoing regional conflicts.
