Also called a sandstorm, a dust storm is a weather event common in dry regions when a strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface.

In the context of climate change, our Earth will experience intensified droughts and greater occurrence of wind erosion and extreme weather events, resulting in increased intensity and frequency of sand and dust storms.

Dust storms cause soil loss, especially removing nutrient-rich organic matter, reducing agricultural productivity in the affected areas. They also have been shown to increase the spread of viral disease, and lead to respiratory illness in humans after prolonged or concentrated exposure. However, the dust can have beneficial agricultural impacts where it deposits.

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