Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Weather - Giant Dust Storms

Gotta go to the website to actually see the picture. AMAZING ! !

http://www.sott.net/

~ The Mediator


Giant Dust Storm Blows Over Khartoum
Wed, 02 May 2007
12:12 EDT


Giant Dust Storm Blows Over Khartoum

and these other stories:

Survey to pinpoint moths' decline

Ebola-like virus killing fish in Great Lakes

Over 160 homes flooded, 750 people evacuated in Urals

Pacific whale decline 'a mystery'



Images show a gigantic cloud of dust billowing over an African city.
The dust storm - known as a "Haboob" - gathered over Khartoum, the capital of Sudan in north east Africa yesterday.

©AP
They are caused by downdrafts created when a thunderstorm reaches its final phase. These downdrafts cause descending air to hit the ground and pick up large amounts of dust.


The gathering dust clouds then travel forward at a speed of 30 mph, creating the frightening spectacle. The dust storms can reach a height of 3,000 feet and contain a wall of sand up to 60 miles wide.


The word Haboob comes from the Arabic for "phenomena".


The Haboob also occurs in America, especially in hot dry states such as Arizona and Texas.

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