## 3 Results and Discussion
### Impacts of Falling Dust on Soil  
Soil loss due to the falling dust for the studied sites is shown in Figure 8. Global warming and subsequent climate changes are contributing to consistent exposure of soil surface to many kinds of abiotic issues, such as wind erosion, dust storm, and water erosion, consequently resulting in soil deterioration and, in certain cases, complete soil loss. Soil loss is a common phenomenon resulting from wind erosion, dust storms, and dust emission that not only disturbs soil properties but also results in low soil fertility and, in some cases, the complete loss of arable land. These findings are consistent with previous studies that have reported significant nutrient loss, reduced soil organic carbon content, and overall poor soil fertility as consequences of dust storms and emissions [16; 53; 54]. Dust emission from dust storms not only affects soil biogeochemical properties but also impacts air quality due to airborne soil constituents. These findings are similar to those of previous studies [55], which also highlight the multifaceted effects of dust storms, emphasizing the necessity for effective management strategies to mitigate soil degradation while simultaneously protecting both soil and air quality. Addressing these interconnected issues is crucial for sustaining environmental health and ensuring the productivity of arable lands in affected regions. Figure 7: Classification of study area based on contour lines (**A**), slope degree (**B**), soil type (**C**), and stream orders (**D**). Each panel provides insights into the geographical and environmental characteristics that influence dust-erosion and soil-formation processes in the Al-Baha region. Our findings showed that wind erosion and resultant soil emission and deposition severally deteriorated soil physiochemical properties (Table 3). Collected data from all studied sites regarding soil physiochemical properties indicated that dust deposited increased soil EC at a couple of sites, reaching a maximum of 10.67 and 7.78 dS m\({}^{-1}\) at sites S1 and S18, respectively, while no prominent effects were found on soil pH. Soluble cations were found in high quantities, especially Na\({}^{+}\), which severally impacted soil properties and resulted in problems of soil solicity in several sites. The highest contents of Na\({}^{+}\) were found at S1 (165.98 meq kg\({}^{-1}\)), S18 (96.96 meq kg\({}^{-1}\)), and S3 (20.42 meq kg\({}^{-1}\)), indicating a high accumulation of Na\({}^{+}\) ions, ultimately resulting in poor soil structure and low infiltration [56]. Figure 8: Soil loss across studied sites (S1–S20) due to the falling dust in terms of wind. Erosion (**A**), wind surface disturbance (**B**), and dust deposition (**C**). The accumulation of Na\({}^{+}\) ions through dust deposition could be due to anthropogenic activities within the vicinity of the studied areas and water flow and surface runoff. Similar to the higher accumulation of Na\({}^{+}\), Cl\({}^{-}\) ions were also found in higher concentrations at some studied sites. S1 was credited with the highest Cl\({}^{-}\) accumulation (211.56 meq kg\({}^{-1}\)), followed by S13 (69.96 meq kg\({}^{-1}\)) and S3 (106.94 meq kg\({}^{-1}\)). These findings indicate severe contamination at these sites (S1, S3, and S13), likely attributed to local anthropogenic activities, leaching from natural sources, and dust deposition resulting from dust storms. Furthermore, the elevation data are relevant, as they highlight the topographical features that can affect water flow patterns, influencing runoff and the distribution of contaminants in the soil, while also impacting vegetation growth and public visibility in the affected areas. Overall, dust deposition contributes significantly to soil loss and environmental degradation in the studied regions, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to mitigate these impacts.