Dust Storms
A Dust Storm occurs when loose dust particles are lifted by a stong wind. This wind can be from a Thunderstorm gust front, or can be from a dry Cold Front.
If dust is blown off the surface and reduces visibility to less than 1000m, this is referred to as a dust storm.(Wagtendonk et al., 2003[2])
"The vertical extent of the dust or sand that is raised is largely determined by the stability of the atmosphere above the ground as well as by the weight of the particulates."(Wikipedia, 2009[1].) Some dust storms have extended to 20,000 feet in height.
"Drought and wind contribute to the emergence of dust storms, as do poor farming and grazing practices by exposing the dust and sand to the wind". (Wikipedia, 2009[1].)
Flight Conditions
There will always be strong winds associated with a dust storm, as well as very poor visibility. This makes taking off and landing difficult, if not impossible. Dust storms usually cause major delays at airports when they occur.
Sydney, September 2009
The combination of a drought caused by the El Nino effect and a stong low and cold front sweeping from West to East across Australia caused a wide spread dust storm, which affected flight operations across the east coast of Australia on the 23rd of September 2009. The dust in this case had a red tinge, causing the sky to glow red during the storm.
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| The Sydney Harbor Bridge at 10AM, Image Embedded from Daily Mail UK on 24th September 2009 | A Satelite Image of the Dust Storm, Image Embedded from NASA - Visible Earth on 24th September 2009 | |
| Australian 7 News Report on the Dust Storm, Video Embedded from YouTube 24th September 2009] |
The Same Dust Storm Passing over Broken Hill, West of Sydney
| Video Embedded from YouTube, 24th September 2009 |
Other Examples
| Broken Hill, NSW, Australia - WARNING, the filmers of this video use coarse langauge. | Iraq | |
| Video Embedded from YouTube, 24th September 2009 | Video Embedded from YouTube, 24th September 2009 | |
Want to know more?
- Wikipedia - Dust Storms
- More information on dust storms, including severe storms that have occurred since the 1930's.
- Wikipedia - El Nino
- Information on the El Nino effect and how it contributes to a dryer climate in Australia while it is in affect.
