Editing Dust storm (section)

== Physical and environmental effects ==
[[File:A Sand Wind on the Desert.jpg|thumb|Dust storm in Sahara, painted by [[George Francis Lyon]]]]
A sandstorm can transport and carry large volumes of sand unexpectedly. Dust storms can carry large amounts of dust, with the leading edge being composed of a wall of thick dust as much as {{convert|1.6|km|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} high. Dust and sand storms which come off the [[Sahara Desert]] are locally known as a [[simoom]] or simoon. The ''[[haboob]]'' is a sandstorm prevalent in the region of [[Sudan]] around [[Khartoum]], with occurrences being most common in the summer.

The [[Sahara]] desert is a key source of dust storms, particularly the [[Bodélé Depression]]<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/1/1/014005 |title=The Bodélé depression: A single spot in the Sahara that provides most of the mineral dust to the Amazon forest |journal=Environmental Research Letters |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=014005 |year=2006 |last1=Koren |first1=Ilan |last2=Kaufman |first2=Yoram J |last3=Washington |first3=Richard |last4=Todd |first4=Martin C |last5=Rudich |first5=Yinon |last6=Martins |first6=J Vanderlei |last7=Rosenfeld |first7=Daniel |bibcode=2006ERL.....1a4005K |doi-access=free}}</ref> and an area covering the confluence of [[Mauritania]], [[Mali]], and [[Algeria]].<ref>{{cite journal |jstor=3650666 |doi=10.1111/1475-5661.00013 |title=Saharan dust: Sources and trajectories |journal=Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=165 |year=2001 |last1=Middleton |first1=N. J. |last2=Goudie |first2=A. S. |bibcode=2001TrIBG..26..165M}}</ref> Sahara dust is frequently emitted into the Mediterranean atmosphere and transported by the winds sometimes as far north as central Europe and Great Britain.<ref>{{cite journal |isbn=9780889866171 |title=Airborne Transport of Saharan Dust to the Mediterranean and to the Atlantic |journal=Environmental Modelling and Simulation |volume=EMS-2006 |pages=54–59 |year=2006 |last1=Pericleous |first1=Koulis |last2=Fisher |first2=BEA |display-authors=1}}</ref>

Saharan dust storms have increased approximately 10-fold during the half-century since the 1950s, causing [[topsoil]] loss in [[Niger]], [[Chad]], northern [[Nigeria]], and [[Burkina Faso]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wesr.unep.org/redesign/media/docs/assessments/global_assessment_of_sand_and_dust_storms.pdf |title=Global Assessment of Sand and Dust Storms |publisher=The United Nations Environment Programme |date=2022}}</ref> In Mauritania there were just two dust storms a year in the early 1960s; there are about 80 a year since 2007, according to English [[geographer]] [[Andrew Goudie (geographer)|Andrew Goudie]], professor at the [[University of Oxford]].<ref>Brown, Lester R. (June 27, 2007) [http://www.ipsnews.net/2007/06/environment-around-the-globe-farmers-losing-ground/ Environment: Around the Globe, Farmers Losing Ground] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220163520/http://www.ipsnews.net/2007/06/environment-around-the-globe-farmers-losing-ground/ |date=2016-12-20 }}. ipsnews.net</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/Seg/PB2ch05_ss3.htm |title=Losing Soil |access-date=2007-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629132531/http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/Seg/PB2ch05_ss3.htm |archive-date=2007-06-29 |author=Brown, Lester R.}}</ref> Levels of Saharan dust coming off the east coast of Africa in June 2007 were five times those observed in June 2006, and were the highest observed since at least 1999, which may have cooled Atlantic waters enough to slightly reduce hurricane activity in late 2007.<ref>Loney, Jim (August 9, 2007) [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-weather-hurricanes-dust-idUSN0920911120070809 Scientists examine African dust link to hurricanes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220061042/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-weather-hurricanes-dust-idUSN0920911120070809 |date=2016-12-20 }}. Reuters</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/cooling_dust.html |title=NASA: Saharan Dust Has Chilling Effect on North Atlantic |publisher=Nasa.gov |date=December 2007 |access-date=2016-12-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531104215/https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/cooling_dust.html |archive-date=2017-05-31}}</ref>
[[File:Sydney_harbour_bridge_duststorm.jpg|thumb|[[Sydney]] shrouded in dust during the [[2009 Australian dust storm]].]]
Dust storms have also been shown to increase the spread of disease across the globe.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1128/CMR.00039-06 |pmid=17630335 |pmc=1932751 |title=Atmospheric Movement of Microorganisms in Clouds of Desert Dust and Implications for Human Health |journal=Clinical Microbiology Reviews |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=459–77, table of contents |year=2007 |last1=Griffin |first1=D. W. |bibcode=2007CMbRv..20..459G}}</ref> [[Bacteria]] and [[fungus]] spores in the ground are blown into the atmosphere by the storms with the minute particles and interact with urban [[air pollution]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/EDE.0b013e31818809e0 |pmid=18854705 |year=2008 |last1=Sandstrom |first1=T |title=Desert dust: An unrecognized source of dangerous air pollution? |journal=Epidemiology |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=808–809 |last2=Forsberg |first2=B |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Short-term effects of exposure to desert dust include immediate increased [[symptoms]] and worsening of the [[lung function]] in individuals with [[asthma]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1440-1843.2005.00728.x |pmid=16135170 |title=Effects of ambient particulate matter on peak expiratory flow rates and respiratory symptoms of asthmatics during Asian dust periods in Korea |journal=Respirology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=470–476 |year=2005 |last1=Park |first1=Jeong Woong |last2=Lim |first2=Young Hee |last3=Kyung |first3=Sun Young |last4=An |first4=Chang Hyeok |last5=Lee |first5=Sang Pyo |last6=Jeong |first6=Seong Hwan |last7=Ju |first7=Young-Su |s2cid=39768807}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastfactsforkids.com/weather-facts/dust-storm-facts-for-kids |title=Dust Facts |publisher=Fast Facts for Kids |date=2022}}</ref> increased [[mortality rate|mortality]] and [[morbidity]] from long-transported dust from both Saharan<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/EDE.0b013e31818131cf |pmid=18938653 |title=Coarse Particles from Saharan Dust and Daily Mortality |journal=Epidemiology |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=800–807 |year=2008 |last1=Perez |first1=Laura |last2=Tobias |first2=Aurelio |last3=Querol |first3=Xavier |last4=Künzli |first4=Nino |last5=Pey |first5=Jorge |last6=Alastuey |first6=Andrés |last7=Viana |first7=Mar |last8=Valero |first8=Natalia |last9=González-Cabré |first9=Manuel|last10=Sunyer|first10=Jordi |s2cid=21092037 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and [[Asian dust]] storms<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.06.046 |title=Effect of Asian dust storms on daily mortality in seven metropolitan cities of Korea |journal=Atmospheric Environment |volume=79 |pages=510–517 |year=2013 |last1=Lee |first1=Hyewon |last2=Kim |first2=Ho |last3=Honda |first3=Yasushi |last4=Lim |first4=Youn-Hee |last5=Yi |first5=Seungmuk |bibcode=2013AtmEn..79..510L}}</ref> suggesting that long-transported dust storm particles adversely affects the circulatory system. [[Dust pneumonia]] is the result of large amounts of dust being inhaled.

Prolonged and unprotected exposure of the [[respiratory system]] in a dust storm can also cause [[silicosis]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.envint.2013.10.011 |pmid=24275707 |title=Desert dust and human health disorders |journal=Environment International |volume=63 |pages=101–113 |year=2014 |last1=Goudie |first1=Andrew S. |bibcode=2014EnInt..63..101G |url=https://doaj.org/article/0eda0fa3763e446fb37adbd275a7fabb |access-date=2019-12-12 |archive-date=2020-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818132605/https://doaj.org/article/0eda0fa3763e446fb37adbd275a7fabb |url-status=dead}}</ref> which, if left untreated, will lead to [[asphyxia]]tion; silicosis is an incurable condition that may also lead to [[lung cancer]]. There is also the danger of [[keratoconjunctivitis sicca]] ("dry eyes") which, in severe cases without immediate and proper treatment, can lead to [[blindness]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tidke |first1=Shivangi C |last2=Tidake |first2=Pravin |title=A Review of Corneal Blindness: Causes and Management |journal=Cureus |date=2022 |volume=14 |issue=10 |pages=e30097 |doi=10.7759/cureus.30097 |doi-access=free |issn=2168-8184 |pmc=9643016 |pmid=36381769}}</ref>

=== Economic impact ===
Dust storms cause soil loss from the drylands, and worse, they preferentially remove organic matter and the nutrient-rich lightest particles, thereby reducing agricultural productivity. Also, the abrasive effect of the storm damages young crop plants. Dust storms also reduce visibility, affecting aircraft and road transportation.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=August 2021}}

Dust can also have beneficial effects where it deposits: Central and South American rainforests get significant quantities of mineral nutrients from the Sahara;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Rob |date=2015-02-24 |title=Saharan Dust Feeds Amazon's Plants |url=http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/nasa-satellite-reveals-how-much-saharan-dust-feeds-amazon-s-plants |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=NASA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yu |first1=Hongbin |last2=Chin |first2=Mian |last3=Yuan |first3=Tianle |last4=Bian |first4=Huisheng |last5=Remer |first5=Lorraine A. |last6=Prospero |first6=Joseph M. |last7=Omar |first7=Ali |last8=Winker |first8=David |last9=Yang |first9=Yuekui |last10=Zhang |first10=Yan |last11=Zhang |first11=Zhibo |last12=Zhao |first12=Chun |date=2015-03-28 |title=The fertilizing role of African dust in the Amazon rainforest: A first multiyear assessment based on data from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2015GL063040 |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=1984–1991 |doi=10.1002/2015GL063040 |bibcode=2015GeoRL..42.1984Y |osti=1225157 |s2cid=131476017 |issn=0094-8276}}</ref> iron-poor ocean regions get iron; and dust in Hawaii increases [[Plantain (cooking)|plantain]] growth. In northern China as well as the mid-western U.S., ancient dust storm deposits known as [[loess]] are highly fertile soils, but they are also a significant source of contemporary dust storms when soil-securing vegetation is disturbed.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=August 2021}}