SANDSTORMS

Causes

Sandstorms -- also called duststorms -- are caused by strong winds blowing over loose soil or sand, and picking up so much of that material that visibility is greatly reduced. The widespread abundance of loose sand in deserts makes them the most common locations for sandstorms to form.
In desert regions at certain times of the year, sandstorms become more frequent because the strong heating of the air over the desert causes the lower atmosphere to become unstable. This instability mixes strong winds in the middle troposphere downward to the surface, producing stronger winds at the surface.

A sandstorm is caused by strong winds that blow over loose soil or sand. In desert areas at certain times of the year, sandstorms become more recurrent due to the strong heating of the air over the desert causing the lower atmosphere to become unstable.

Most sand storms occur during the day when the earth’s surface heats up and spreads at night as it gets cold. Sandstorms are unpredictable, they appear out of nowhere.

Sandstorms can carry huge amounts of sand, so much that the leading edge of one can appear as a solid wall of sand and dust as much as 1525m high

Deforestation and excessive cultivation of farmland can cause a sandstorm problem. Over-grazing and excessive use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.

Sandstorms are caused by strong winds that occur in desert or semi-arid regions, and they carry thick clouds of dust and sand, often reducing visibility to near zero in many cases.

Strong winds blowing over loose soil or sand is what causes sandstorms. Sandstorms can also be called dust storms. They are caused by convection currents.

Sandstorms are able to move entire sand dunes and sometimes able to move entire roads. There are also similar sandstorms in Mars.

Damage


Sandstorms are notorious for getting sand into equipment, houses, and just about every nook and cranny of everything. The abrasive characteristics of the sand can be harmful to machinery.

In order to protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective goggles and suits. Special air filters can be installed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sand storms can cause hacking coughs, and the sand and dust have also been known to be capable of carrying 'infectious diseases'. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will clog air passages, and cause the person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may simply cause an allergic reaction

sandstorms can create havoc with man and machine. "A sandstorm can last for several hours to a full day," says Nielsen-Gammon. "Most of the time, sandstorms affect only the air from about 1-3 miles high, so airplanes flying above that range are OK. But on the ground, sand moving at about 50 miles an hour can be a real nightmare. It can clog up just about anything that is mechanical, from a soldier's rifle to a car or an army tank. Once the sandstorm has passed, a thorough cleaning of just about anything is required."

Severe sandstorms are major disasters in arid and semi-arid areas. They occur suddenly and affect large areas causing great losses to the national economy and the people.

In Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia 85 persons died and 264 were injured, 4,412 houses were destroyed, and 120,000 animals died or went missing. About 373,333 million acres of crops were destroyed, over 2,000 miles of ditches were buried, and transportation and telecommunications facilities were severed in some areas.

Description/types

There are two types of sandstorms, says Nielsen-Gammon. "The first kind is the result of a severe thunderstorm that creates strong winds. This kind is called a 'haboob,' which is an Arabic word for blowing dust. The second type is the one most Americans are familiar with. It's caused by a curving of the jet stream which brings strong winds to the surface. Sandstorms tend to be worse during the daytime because the ground is heated up by the sun and the dust can be carried greater distances. That's why breathing can become a real problem, and some type of mask is often required. Probably the worst sandstorms occur in China and Mongolia. The sand blows so hard that there is a 'yellow rain' effect. So much sand is in the air that it changes the color of raindrops, and there appears to be a yellow rain falling from the sky."