We explain what a sandstorm is and what its causes and consequences are. In addition, we explain its general characteristics and examples.
Sandstorms are large, violent clouds of tiny materials.
What is a sandstorm?
Sandstorms are meteorological events characteristic of arid and semi-arid climates. They occur when Strong winds raise large amounts of sand and dust and form a dense cloud that moves across the Earth’s surface at high speed. These storms can last from a few hours to several days and often have a significant impact on people’s lives.
Sand and dust particles carried by the winds are very small and light. For this reason they can reach more than 4000 meters high and fly thousands of kilometers to very remote regions.
How are sandstorms formed?
Sandstorms are created in an unstable atmosphere with strong winds.
To form a sandstorm, a wind strong enough to lift dust or sand particles from the ground and send them into the atmosphere is required. As the wind advances and the cloud moves, more particles are incorporated and storms can grow in size and strength.
In addition to winds, droughts and lack of vegetation can also contribute to the formation and intensification of sandstorms.
Consequences of a sandstorm
Sandstorms often cause a significant reduction in visibility.
Sandstorms can have very severe consequences for human populations:
- Visibility is reduced and the sky becomes dark due to the amount of suspended particles in the air. This can increase the risk of traffic accidents and also lead to disruptions in road and air transport.
- Crops may be destroyed, which can affect the food security of nearby communities.
- Interference with radio signals and other means of communication may occur, which may hamper the work of emergency services in the affected areas.
- “Dirty” or “muddy” rains can be generated, since suspended dust can mix with rainwater.
- Suspended dust carries minerals and materials to distant places that affect the chemical balance of other ecosystems.
- Dust can reduce the effectiveness of solar panels and similar technologies that rely on sunlight.
Differences with a dust storm
Although they operate in the same way, sand storms and dust storms are distinguished by the type of solid materials they lift from the ground and throw into the atmosphere. Sand grains are larger than dust grains.which is why they tend to stay suspended for less time and fly shorter distances.
Another important difference is the height of the clouds. Sandstorms can create clouds of particles that rise several hundred meterswhile dust storms generally produce lower clouds.
Sandstorms are most common in arid and semi-arid regions where there is a large amount of sand available. Dust storms, on the other hand, can occur anywhere, even in urban areas.
Sandstorm risk zones
These storms usually occur in desert regions where sand is abundant.
Sandstorms are common in arid and semi-arid regions where deserts predominate, for example:
- in the Sahara Desert in northern Africa
- in the Arabian Peninsula
- in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia
- in the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China
- in the dry pampas region of Argentina
- in northern Chile
Precautions against a sandstorm
During a sandstorm it is advisable to cover your eyes, nose and mouth.
When faced with a sandstorm, it is advisable to take certain precautions:
- Stay insideIt is best to seek shelter in a house or a closed vehicle.
- Cover your faceIt is important to protect primarily the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay hydratedSandstorms tend to be very dry, so it is important to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Avoid walking on the streetsIf you are in a car, the best thing to do is to stop and wait for the storm to pass, even if this means the inconvenience of being trapped inside the vehicle with practically no visibility.
Sand and dust storm alerts
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is developing a project to forecast and alert sand and dust storms. Provide early warnings and accurate forecasts of sandstormsWMO works closely with national meteorological services and international agencies that study climate.
These forecasts are based on observation and analysis of meteorological information from satellite data, radars and weather stations. In addition, WMO coordinates the exchange of meteorological information between countries, a fundamental measure in trying to predict the occurrence of large sandstorms that may affect several regions.
Worst sandstorms in history
Some of the most intense sandstorms ever recorded occurred in:
- Sydney, Australia, 1942It was the largest dust storm in the city’s history, reducing visibility at the local airport to 500 meters.
- Phoenix, USA, 2011The entire city was covered by a cloud of dust 3,000 meters high and 80 kilometers wide, which prevented all types of flights to and from the American city.
- Beijing, China, 2014It was one of the worst dust storms in the region, forcing the suspension of classes and causing damage to infrastructure in cities. In addition to Beijing, it affected the cities of Tianjin and Zhengzhou.
- New Delhi, India2018More than 125 people died after a dust and sand storm hit overnight and caused many buildings to collapse.
Sandstorms off planet
Sandstorms on Mars are relatively common events, which can last for weeks or even months. They occur when Martian winds raise large amounts of dust and sand from the planet’s surface and lift them into the atmosphere.
These storms can also impact space exploration. During a dust storm, sunlight and visibility at the surface are significantly reduced, which can hamper the operation of solar-powered spacecraft that operate and collect data.
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References
- Pacheco, G. (2022). What is a sandstorm and why does it form? Excelsior
- WMO (World Meteorological Organization) (nd). Sand and dust storms. WMO
UNEP (UN Environment Programme) (nd). Sand and dust storms: Containing a global phenomenon. UNEP