Dust storm

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A dust storm or sandstorm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions and arises when a gust front passes or when the wind force exceeds the threshold value where loose sand and dust are removed from the dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil erosion from one place and deposition in another. The Sahara and drylands around the Arabian peninsula are the main source of airborne dust, with some contributions from Iran, Pakistan and India into the Arabian Sea, and China's storms deposit dust in the Pacific. It has been argued that recently, poor management of the Earth's drylands, such as neglecting the fallow system, are increasing dust storms from desert margins and changing both the local and global climate, and also impacting local economies.

The term sandstorm is used most often in the context of desert sandstorms, especially in the Sahara, when, in addition to fine particles obscuring visibility, a considerable amount of larger sand particles are blown closer to the surface. The term dust storm is more likely to be used when finer particles are blown long distances, especially when the dust storm affects urban areas.

For more information about Dust storm, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

News tagged with dust storms

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Desert Dust Alters Ecology of Colorado Alpine Meadows

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

Jun 29, 2009 | 4.9 / 5 (50) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Accelerated snowmelt--precipitated by desert dust blowing into the mountains--changes how alpine plants respond to seasonal climate cues that regulate their life cycles, according to results ...

Dust plays larger than expected role in determining Atlantic temperature

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

Mar 26, 2009 | 4.4 / 5 (17) | 13

(PhysOrg.com) -- The recent warming trend in the Atlantic Ocean is largely due to reductions in airborne dust and volcanic emissions during the past 30 years, according to a new study.

Saharan dust storms sustain life in Atlantic Ocean

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

Jul 18, 2008 | 4.4 / 5 (16) | 0

Research at the University of Liverpool has found how Saharan dust storms help sustain life over extensive regions of the North Atlantic Ocean.

NASA to moon: Get ready because here we come (AP)

NASA probes hit moon twice (Update 2)

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Oct 09, 2009 | 4.4 / 5 (7) | 11

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, created twin impacts on the moon's surface early Friday in a search for water ice. Scientists will analyze data from the spacecraft's instruments ...

Mars Rovers Near Five Years of Science and Discovery

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Dec 30, 2008 | 4.8 / 5 (5) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity may still have big achievements ahead as they approach the fifth anniversaries of their memorable landings on Mars.

Dust Storm Passing Over Spirit

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Aug 26, 2009 | 5 / 5 (4) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- The amount of electricity generated by the solar panels on Spirit has been declining for the past several Martian days, or sols, as a regional dust storm moved southward and blocked some of ...

Scientists monitor developing Mars dust storm

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Apr 20, 2009 | 4.3 / 5 (4) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at Arizona State University's Mars Space Flight Facility are using the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter to monitor a new dust storm that has ...

Skyscrapers in downtown Seoul are shrouded by yellow dust storms in 2006

S.Korea issues warning against 'yellow dust'

Space & Earth / Environment

Dec 25, 2009 | 3.7 / 5 (3) | 0

South Korea's weather service Friday issued a warning against airborne pollution known as "yellow dust", advising residents in western areas to avoid outdoor activities.

Mars Spacecraft Teams on Alert for Dust-Storm Season

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Apr 16, 2009 | 5 / 5 (2) | 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- Heading into a period of the Martian year prone to major dust storms, the team operating NASA's twin Mars rovers is taking advantage of eye-in-the-sky weather reports.

Aerosols -- their part in our rainfall

Space & Earth / Environment

Feb 12, 2009 | 2.7 / 5 (3) | 2

Aerosols may have a greater impact on patterns of Australian rainfall and future climate change than previously thought, according to leading atmospheric scientist, CSIRO's Dr. Leon Rotstayn.

Skyscrapers in downtown Seoul in March 2006 are shrouded by yellow dust storms blowing in from China's Gobi desert

SKoreans buy air purifiers amid "yellow dust" warning

Space & Earth / Environment

Mar 01, 2009 | 5 / 5 (1) | 0

South Koreans are stocking up on air purifiers following a forecast of especially severe "yellow dust" storms from China and Mongolia this spring, officials said Friday.

NASA-enhanced dust storm predictions to aid health community

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Oct 28, 2008 | 4 / 5 (1) | 0

NASA satellite data can improve forecasts of dust storms in the American Southwest in ways that can benefit public health managers. Scientists announced the finding as a five-year NASA-funded project nears its conclusion.

Free Spirit Testing Nearing Completion

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

Jul 31, 2009 | 3 / 5 (1) | 0

Mars rover engineers at JPL are winding down testing of different escape maneuvers using a test rover in a sand box filled with soil to mimic the Martian surface. It is possible that in early August the first ...