America’s War On Dust Storms

The climate wars in the U.S. are already so broad and complex that they are hard to track, and probably impossible to settle completely in the short term. Add to the problems of floods, tornadoes, drought, extreme hot and cold, and wildfires, the emergence of large and dangerous dust storms. 

Inside Climate News recently reported that scientists have begun to investigate the complex ways the dust storms emerge. They are the results of what is nearly a “perfect storm.” First, there must be thunderstorms strong enough to dislodge soil from the ground. This has to come from “plowed open fields.” This soil becomes diffuse enough that it becomes dust. Then, it requires more wind to create a dangerous situation. The example used by these experts was a sudden dust storm in Illinois and Kansas

The challenge of removing part of the danger is that there are enough elements to cause the storms that predictive models are hard to create. 

Midwest Storm

“Wind can make a large dust particle roll on the ground, forming the particles into larger masses. That formation is called a creep. The other process is called impaction, where the wind is high enough to raise particles off the ground until they fall to earth with calamity. “ Inside Climate News calls these factors unpredictable. 

Like wildfires, several changes would be necessary to reduce the risk of dust storms. Some, like drought, may not change for years, if ever. Others, which include accelerating farming practices, are hard to sell if they make farming more expensive

---

Sponsor

Find a Vetted Financial Advisor

1. Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
2. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!