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Dust storms are a phenomenon particularly common to the and and semi-arid regions of Turkmenistan. The aridity of the climate, vast areas of sandy, solonchak and clayey deserts, sparse vegetation cover, and strong winds all favor the formation of dust storms. Long-term (60 years) data from 56 meteorological stations was analysed for the study of spatial distribution, frequency, seasonality and diurnal variation of the dust storms in Turkmenistan. The highest mean annual frequency of such storms is observed in the spring in the sandy Central Karakum Desert (67 days), and the maximum number of dust storm days was registered at 146 days in western Turkmenistan. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.