Dust storms are a wall of dust and debris that is frequently carried into a region by powerful thunderstorm winds. Miles upon miles and several thousand feet high, the wall of dust may stretch. The size of the dust particles, how long you are exposed to the storm, and if you have a lung disease can all affect how a dust storm affects your health.
Dust particles can remain in the atmosphere for up to 10 days. Breathing in particulates may worsen or cause lower respiratory tract infections, lung conditions, cardiovascular disorders, coughing, and wheezing. After a dust storm, those with lung diseases, elderly folks, and children are particularly vulnerable to lung irritation.
Causes of These Natural Disasters
Strong winds, which are frequently brought on by thunderstorms, are what cause dust storms. In desert areas, dust storms can be produced by winds lifting ground-level dust into the air. A dust storm is typically caused by winds that arise from a thunderstorm or a significant pressure gradient.
The topography and vegetation of a region might also increase the likelihood of dust storms. Although dust storms usually pass quickly—between a few minutes and an hour—they pose a serious risk to drivers and anyone outside during the storm.
Dust storms are made worse by human activity. A growing portion of the planet is becoming vulnerable to drying out due to deforestation. When no crops are planted, thousands of acres of dry land are left uncovered by large-scale crop production in dry regions.
Effects of Dust Storms
Sometimes, dust storms are powerful enough to uproot trees and wipe out huge areas of vegetation. Additionally, it can have a disastrous impact on the agriculture industry, resulting in the widespread destruction of entire crops.
The process through which a growing portion of the earth becomes deserts due to climatic changes and human activity is known as desertification. The paradoxical nature of this process is that it promotes the occurrence of more dust storms through desertification. In exchange, these storms take out a lot of topsoil from nearby areas, which speeds up the process of desertification.
Similar to blizzards and thick fog, dust storms can significantly impair vision. All forms of transportation are severely impacted by this, particularly air and road travel. Road closures and aircraft delays or cancellations may be necessary due to the severity of the situation. It also has a long-term negative impact on the overall economy.
Tips to Protect Yourself from A Dust Storm
It is advised that you:
- cease engaging in demanding physical activities and spend as much time indoors as possible in order to limit exposure.
- Use air conditioning, cover doors and windows, and think about investing in an air purifier with a HEPA (PM 2.5) filter. If you must go outside, you might want to think about using a disposable respirator mask.
- Be careful if you’re driving. As soon as you can, park your car carefully, switch off your lights, and pull off the road. Keeping your lights on could stop other cars from trying to follow your taillights through the storm and collide with you. Until the storm passes, remain inside your car and buckle up.
In Summary
Dust storms may not linger for very long, but they pack a big punch and inflict a lot of disruption and damage in a short amount of time, as you may have discovered while reading the following article. Natural disasters like hurricanes or dust storms leave behind a lot of damage if you don’t take precautions beforehand.
You will understand exactly what a dust storm is, how it forms, and how it affects both human and animal life after reading this article. And how you can protect yourself.
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