What seems extreme to us is actually a common occurrence in Africa and the Middle East. The similar sand-saturated hurricane-speed storms over Mediterranian are called Sirocco, Yugo and Ghibli. The dust (or desert sand) particles become airborne and held in suspension, creating a moving front. The convection of cold air over the heated ground maintains the storm and keeps the dust rolling.
Dust Storm Israeli Negev Desert.
Dust Storm Israeli Negev Desert.
Sand Storm in Khartoum, Sudan.
Storm in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
2007 hurricane season.
This Dust-Storm-look-alike is actually a "Cloud Front Australian Outback".
Here is an alarming fact: Sand storms now happen ten times more frequently than fifty years ago. For example, Mauritania had only two storms per year in the early Sixties, now it's more like EIGHTY a year. Sahara's sand is also being sent into the Atlantic at an accelerated pace (five times growth in one year, since 2006!) - however, this could be a good thing, according to Wikipedia, as it will cool off the ocean enough to slightly ease the ongoing 2007 hurricane season.
No comments:
Post a Comment