Geographia Technica, No. 1/2008, pp. 64 - 73

LA TEMPÊTE DE SABLE DU 19 AU 22 FÉVRIER 2004 EN ALGÉRIE : CONDITIONS MÉTÉOROLOGIQUES ET CARACTÉRISTIQUES

Z. Nouaceur

ABSTRACT - The Sirocco wind represents in Algeria a hot and dry wind that blows from the Sahara, towards the coastal regions. At the time of the occurrence of this type of phenomenon, the uprising of dust and sand by the winds strongly reduce the visibility. In the same time, we can observe a spectacular and unusual rise of the temperatures in the regions of the north of the country. The situation that prevailed from February 19 to 22 2004 represents an extreme case of the types of Sirocco weather. The aerological and climatic analysis of this event tends to show that the types of weather associated with the Siroco wind represent a phenomenon the impact of which on the economic activity, the health of the populations and the evolution of the global and regional climate is incontestable.

Keywords: climate, sand-winds, Sirocco, lithométéore

Nouaceur_climate sand-winds Sirocco  lithometeore.pdf