A dust storm (or sandstorm in some contexts) is a meteorological phenomenon common in dry, arid and semi-arid regions. Such a storm is usually the result of convection currents created by intense heating of the ground. The air over the sand becomes hot, and rises. This creates differences in air pressure and temperature, and the cooler winds begin to rush in. The wind is strong enough to move dunes, and it often interferes with travel, sometimes obliterating roads in flat, dry regions such as those of the western United States. For instance, on the 29th of November 1991 a convective dust storm formed over Interstate-5 in the San Joaquin Valley, California. The storm picked up dust in a suspension with winds at speeds of over 120km/h. Visibility was reduced to less than half a car's length, causing a pile-up accident involving 164 cars, killing 17 and injuring 151. The simoom or simoon (sîmūm, sîmūn) is the dust- and sand-laden desert wind of N Africa and Arabia that contributes largely to the atmospheric dust over Europe; evidence of the dust from simoon winds has also been found on the seafloor at considerable distances from shore. The haboob (həbūb) is a sandstorm prevalent in the region of Sudan around Khartoum. Sandstorms, the leading edges of which often appear as solid walls of dust as much as 5,050 ft (1,525 m) high, also occur, although less frequently, in the SW United States. One that occurred near Tucson, Arizona, on July 16 1971, was extensively documented by meteorologists. Similar duststorms from windborne particles are evident on the planet Mars and are thought to be seasonal. Severe dust storms can reduce visibility to zero, making travel impossible, and can blow away valuable topsoil, while depositing soil in places where it may not be wanted. Drought and wind contribute to the emergence of dust storms, as do poor farming and grazing practices. The dust picked up in such a storm can be carried thousands of kilometers: Sahara dust storms influence plankton growth in the western Atlantic Ocean and, according to some scientists, are an important source of scarce minerals for the plants of the Amazon rainforest. Dust storms can often be observed from satellite photos, the use of which is highly valuable in forecasting; of particular use are the NASA imaging devices MODIS and SeaWIFS.

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Micro dust storms on Mars prove that it's populated by Tasmanian Devils. The Warner Brothers kind, that is.
seanddowling (Sean Dowling) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:52:23 -0000
Micro dust storms on Mars prove that it's populated by Tasmanian Devils. The Warner Brothers kind, that is.
Howling winds, dust storms, & below freezing temps don't help...
clayrock (clayrock) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:01:29 -0000
Howling winds, dust storms, & below freezing temps don't help...
I was born to brew up storms, stir up shit, kick up dust, and curse til I slur up spit. Ask urself wats the tru definition of a Renegade.
marsha_machete (E Lou) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:13:22 -0000
I was born to brew up storms, stir up shit, kick up dust, and curse til I slur up spit. Ask urself wats the tru definition of a Renegade.
@lowderchris same place as where the dust storms never blow
farewell2RMS (Kurt Tyler) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:27:52 -0000
@lowderchris same place as where the dust storms never blow
i was born to brew up storms and stir up shit. kick up dust, cuss till I slur up spit.
iGotHaters318 (jαsмίиє яєвєccα !!™) Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:58:08 -0000
i was born to brew up storms and stir up shit. kick up dust, cuss till I slur up spit.
@sjstaggs Yes. And the video clip of my friend talking about the dust storms you can't outrun was even better.
jackie1776 (Jacqueline) Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:51:12 -0000
@sjstaggs Yes. And the video clip of my friend talking about the dust storms you can't outrun was even better.

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