Dust Storms in Asia

International convention defines dust storms as meteorological events "in which visibility at eye level is reduced to less than 1,000 m by dust activity raised from the surface by wind action" (Pye, 1987, p. 80). A dust storm day is a period of 24 hours in which visibility is reduced below 1,000 m for all or part of the time. According to Pye (1987), the highest frequencies of dust storms occur in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. In parts of northeast China, particularly the Takla Makan and Gansu Corridor, dust storms occur more than 30 times per year (Pye, 1987).

It is the purpose of this study to move from an overview of desert dust storms in Asia to an analysis of the causes, consequences, and overall effects of such storms. The focus of the discussion will be on environmental effects and not on the effects of such conditions on human beings. A review of relevant literature will be undertaken to present information addressing each of these issues.

Generally, dust storms that occur in arid and semi-arid regions such as that of portions of Asia are seen as playing a main role in the evolution of landscapes (Huang & Gao, 2001). The important factor shaping the occurrence of dust storms is climate, which Huang and Gao (2001) suggest has been poorly understood thus far. Other causes of dust storms may play a role in their frequency and development.

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wed the characteristics of air lands, including particles (particularly sand and sand size) and the characteristics of sand storms. Noting that large portions of the earth are classified as arid and that the most prominent climatic characteristic of such areas is lack of rainfall, the researchers also state that a combination of intense sunlight and heat, with rapid fluctuations in both, are consistent with excessive sand/dust storm activity. Literally millions of tons of sand are displaced annually by the action of such storms. Alghamdi and Akyurt (2001) note that it is important to distinguish between dust and sand storms and their disparate effects. In an erosion desert, the only free dust consists of fine rock particles which have been loosened by weathering; wind in such areas produces a mist of both dust and sand. Accumulation of sand brought about by storms and other transport takes several forms: Deposits caused by fixed obstructions in the path of the driving wind, such as rocks, bushes or cliffs and known as sand shadows or drifts that are dependent on the obstacle for their continued existence; True sand dunes, which can exist independently of any fixed feature, and containing a slip face where the slope of the
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Alghamdi Akyurt, Kosa Phenomenon, Linkage Aeolian, Huang Gao, Quan Shi, China Pye, Warren Goudie, Goudie Middleton, Trueman Zhang, Goossens Offer, dust storms, dust storm, pye 1987, asian dust, et al, dust sand, et al 1993, effects dust, al 1993, frequency dust, cooke et, cooke et al, frequency dust storms, huang gao 2001, alghamdi akyurt 2001,
Approximate Word count = 3494
Approximate Pages = 14 (250 words per page)

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