A dust storm, also called a sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Fine particles are transported by saltation and suspension, a process that moves soil from one place and deposits it in another.
A sandstorm approaching Al Asad April 27, 2005.
An aerial view of a sandstorm over the Namib Desert
Dust storm in Sahara, painted by George Francis Lyon
Sydney shrouded in dust during the 2009 Australian dust storm.
This glossary of meteorology is a list of terms and concepts relevant to meteorology and atmospheric science, their sub-disciplines, and related fields.
The properties of Earth's atmosphere vary by altitude across a series of distinct layers.
A radar image showing a distinct bow echo in a line of thunderstorms over Kansas City, Missouri
Very large air masses (and the clouds within them) spiral counterclockwise around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure in this extratropical cyclone over Iceland
Numerous hailstones accumulated on the ground following a hailstorm