Dust Storms: An Issue in Environmental Science
Owen Borville
December 27, 2023
Environmental Science
A dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is blown into an area by strong winds from thunderstorms or dry cold fronts. The wall of dust created by a dust storm can be miles long and several thousand feet high. (https://scijinks.gov/dust-storm/) Dust storms occur in arid climates, and are caused by poor vegetation, farming, grazing, wildfires, with loose, dry soil in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia and anywhere in the world. Billions of grams of dust exist in the atmosphere at one time. Dust grains are gradually collected into the atmosphere by the wind during a process called saltation and suspension, which erodes and loosens up more dust grains. Dust storms cause respiratory diseases and related illnesses, limit agriculture and transportation activities. Dust storms can carry bacteria, fungi, viruses, and chemical pollutants. Ancient dust storm deposits known as loess produced fertile soils, but enabled modern dust storms. Mars and other planets are known to have dust storms.
Owen Borville
December 27, 2023
Environmental Science
A dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is blown into an area by strong winds from thunderstorms or dry cold fronts. The wall of dust created by a dust storm can be miles long and several thousand feet high. (https://scijinks.gov/dust-storm/) Dust storms occur in arid climates, and are caused by poor vegetation, farming, grazing, wildfires, with loose, dry soil in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia and anywhere in the world. Billions of grams of dust exist in the atmosphere at one time. Dust grains are gradually collected into the atmosphere by the wind during a process called saltation and suspension, which erodes and loosens up more dust grains. Dust storms cause respiratory diseases and related illnesses, limit agriculture and transportation activities. Dust storms can carry bacteria, fungi, viruses, and chemical pollutants. Ancient dust storm deposits known as loess produced fertile soils, but enabled modern dust storms. Mars and other planets are known to have dust storms.