What causes sandstorms?

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What causes sandstorms?

Sandstorms are caused by strong winds blowing over loose soil or sand, and picking up so much of that material that visibility is reduced. 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 higher winds in the middle troposphere downward, producing stronger winds at the surface. In the United States, these events are often referred to as "dust storms".

TRUE COLOR SATELLITE IMAGES OF SANDSTORMS / DUSTSTORMS:

    Alaska (Dust storm formed in valley)
    Iraq (duststorm)
    Mediterranean Sea (Saharan dust)
    Morocco (Saharan dust)
    Persian Gulf (dust)
    Red Sea (dust)
    Texas-Mexico border (dust storm)

Interesting facts:

THE DUST BOWLThere was a prolonged drought in the great plains of the United States in the 1930's. This led to vast areas of exposed dirt, which helped feed dust storms. It is not known what caused this event, but it is believe that poor land use practices by farmers made the situation worse that it would have otherwise been, by plowing up relatively dry grassland to plant wheat. The dust bowl, which made life even more misearble for many during the Great Depression occuring at this time, was highlighted in John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath".

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