Phoenix Dust Storm (PHX-DUST) Scale: A Cooperatively Developed Dust Storm Scale for Phoenix, Arizona
Échelle des tempêtes de poussière de Phoenix (PHX-DUST) : une échelle des tempêtes de poussière développée en collaboration pour Phoenix, en Arizona.
Krahenbuhl, Daniel S. ; Pace, Matthew B. ; Heintzman, Ryan ; Graves, Michael ; Henz, Daniel ; Malloy, Jonny ; White, Joshua ; Anderson, James ; Balling, Robert C. ; Brazel, Anthony J. ; Davis, Ben ; Georgescu, Matei ; Hondula, David ; Norman, Royal ; Olbinski, Mike ; Rankin, David ; Sullins, Amber ; Svoma, Bohumil ; Trampp, David A. ; Wagner, Melissa ; Waters, Ken ; Cerveny, Randall S.
Année de publication
2026
Using extensive localized meteorological and air quality data for central Arizona from 2010 to 2023, we create a postevent dust storm scale for use by the primary stakeholders in central Arizona for the Phoenix metropolitan area called the Phoenix Dust Storm (PHX-DUST) scale. To ensure usability across a wide spectrum of users, a core concept was to "keep it simple." The PHX-DUST scale is based on (i) maximum dust concentration for particulate matter (PM10) across the network in micrograms per cubic meter which determines category, e.g., "category 5 (the highest observed category)" and category 4; (ii) the number of network monitors achieving dust concentrations above a threshold of 500 ?g m?3 (categorized as "widespread" or "isolated," as measures of spatial extent); (iii) a duration parameter (which determines "long duration" or "short duration"); and (iv) a measure of wind speed over the affected area (maximum wind gust recorded over the network, which may not be the maximum wind of the storm). Using this index for the 189 dust storms impacting the Phoenix metropolitan area for the period 2010-23, the most severe dust storm occurred on 5 July 2011 and is classified as a "Category 5, Widespread, Long-Duration High-Gust" event. This initial attempt at defining the PHX-DUST scale holds valuable applications for research, education, and applied analyses. It demonstrates that a consortium of interested groups can effectively work to create products benefiting the weather community and general public. The PHX-DUST scale can also serve as a foundational framework for application in other regions where dust storms pose a threat to the well-being of populations, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Significance Statement A diverse consortium of meteorologists in Phoenix, Arizona, has developed a dust storm ranking scale. This system, called the PHX-DUST scale, uses dust concentrations, wind speeds, and areal coverage to rank dust storms on a scale of 1-5 with secondary classifications. Since 2010, Phoenix's most intense storm has been a "Category 5, Widespread, Long-Duration High-Gust" dust storm, the international news-making dust storm of 5 July 2011. This initial attempt at defining the dust storm intensity for a metropolitan area holds valuable applications for research, education, and applied analyses. The PHX-DUST scale can also serve as a foundational framework for application in other regions where dust storms pose a threat.</div>
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