## 3 Results and Discussion
### Environmental Impact of Dust Storms and Wind Erosion
#### 3.7.3 Implications for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia  
In Saudi Arabia, the effects of wind erosion and dust storms pose serious obstacles to sustainable growth, especially when considering the objectives and goals of the Vision 2030. Through processes such as salinization, higher electrical conductivity, and changes in the mineral makeup of the soil, these natural occurrences exacerbate soil deterioration. Such modifications have a negative impact on soil quality, vegetation development, agricultural production, ecosystem stability, and environmental sustainability. To address these problems, integrated management approaches are needed. The implemented management approaches must consider regional climate and topography and comply with both inter  
Figure 9: The sensitivity of various sites in the Al-Baha region to wind erosion (**A**), wind surface disturbance (**B**), and dust deposition (**C**), measured in tons per hectare (ton ha\({}^{-1}\)). national sustainability goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the commitment of KSA's Vision 2030 to building a resilient and sustainable environment. Given their greater rates of erosion, locations such as S11, S6, and S1 may benefit from targeted erosion-control methods, such as windbreaks, vegetation cover, and soil stabilization techniques, especially during mid-summer, when dust deposition peaks. In order to lessen the impact of wind erosion during high-risk seasons, it may be essential to establish seasonal monitoring and mitigation methods, as dust deposition peaks around mid-July. Effective erosion control will require adaptive management solutions that consider the unique conditions of each location and time of year, given the spatial and temporal variability of wind erosion and dust deposition. The findings of this study emphasize the significant effects of dust storms and dust accumulation on the physiochemical characteristics of soil in Al-Baha. One frequent result of wind erosion is dust deposition, which greatly improves electrical conductivity and changes the mineral content of the soil, leading to a possible increase in the salinity of the soil. The presence of dust particles in the air can cause these changes to significantly impair vegetation growth, deteriorate soil quality, and harm air quality. These changes, as noted in our research, are comparable with the findings of [54], which also highlighted how airborne dust particles can significantly impair vegetation growth, deteriorate soil quality, and negatively affect air quality. This underscores the urgent need for effective management strategies to address the multifaceted impacts of dust storms in arid regions. Dust deposition, wind erosion, and surface runoff all work together to worsen soil loss; this is especially true in places with strong winds and soils characterized with light-textures, like most locations in Al-Baha (Table 3). Agricultural productivity is threatened by the deterioration of soil quality brought on by salinization and dust deposition, which undermines attempts to achieve food security (SDG 2). The increased salinity observed in several locations in Al-Baha and the subsequent expected decrease in soil quality are clear indicators of this degradation. In dry regions like KSA, managing soil- and dust-related concerns requires considering local meteorological and topographic characteristics due to the variability of dust deposition and its impacts across different sites. These findings are comparable with those of [43; 45], which also noted similar patterns of increased salinity and soil quality degradation in arid regions. In dry areas like Saudi Arabia, effectively managing soil and dust-related concerns necessitates considering local meteorological and topographic characteristics, given the variability in dust deposition and its impacts across different sites. To accomplish the goals specified in Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must address several obstacles.