Unfavorable sand and dust storms wreak havoc on numerous lives, causing intense misery.
In a world connected by winds and currents, long-distance sand and dust storms are becoming an increasingly pressing issue, affecting regions far from their origins in major deserts of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. These storms, which primarily impact areas downwind, have been reaching as far as the Americas, Europe, South Asia, and East Asia.
Approximately 80% of the global dust budget is produced by deserts in these regions, with the Sahara Desert being a significant contributor. This dust can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometres, crossing continents and oceans, impacting air quality and health far from its source.
For instance, Saharan dust from North Africa frequently crosses the Atlantic Ocean, affecting air quality in parts of the southern and eastern United States, including states like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Similarly, dust storms generated in Central Asia can affect air quality in China, and dust from the Western Sahara has reached Spain’s Canary Islands.
These dust storms pose significant health risks, with over 330 million people in more than 150 countries affected globally. They contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular problems by increasing particulate matter in the air. During heavy sandstorms, people take refuge in enclosed spaces due to the abrasive nature of the sand and the danger of flying debris. Weaker storms can cause a dull, gritty feeling in the mouth and settle on clothing, hair, and mucous membranes.
Regions particularly affected by long-distance sand and dust storms include the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean region between West Africa and the Caribbean, South America, the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and Central-eastern China. Germany, while not a desert, is not immune to these events, with occasional dust storms or dust whirls occurring.
The economic impact of these storms is substantial. They cause disruptions to air traffic and other transport methods, impacts on agriculture, and solar power generation. Every year, an estimated 2 billion tons of dust and sand enter the atmosphere, causing costs in the millions.
Climate change is exacerbating the occurrence of these storms, with dry and drought periods becoming longer and more frequent than they were a few decades ago. For a sandstorm to form, there must be a thermal contrast between the ground and the middle or upper layers of the atmosphere. Sandstorms typically occur in areas with little vegetation, such as the vast plains of North America, China, and the Sahara.
The "Dust Bowl" was a term used for parts of the Great Plains during the 1930s in the USA and Canada, where severe drought and countless sandstorms occurred, especially between 1935 and 1938. This period serves as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of sandstorms on both the environment and human health.
In conclusion, long-distance sand and dust storms are a global concern that requires urgent attention. Their impact on air quality, health, ecosystems, and economies is significant, and efforts to mitigate their effects should be prioritised to ensure a safer and healthier future for all.
- The global dust budget, largely sourced from major deserts like the Sahara, contributes to the realm of environmental science, as these particles travel extensively, influencing health-and-wellness issues.
- Science reveals a substantial risk to numerous populations worldwide, as over 330 million people in more than 150 countries are currently affected by health problems attributed to these sand and dust storms, such as respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
- Climate change, a subjects central to medical-conditions and health-and-wellness debates, is contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of long-distance sand and dust storms, which further aggravate environmental science concerns regarding air quality and ecological resilience.
