Latest news with #sandstorm
The National
19-05-2025
- The National
Best photos of May 19: Iraq's Hawizeh Marshes to a Libyan housing project
Sand storm Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand Duration: Short-lived, typically localised Travel distance: Limited Source: Open desert areas with strong winds Dust storm Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense Duration: Can linger for days Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres Source: Can be carried from distant regions Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes Premier League-standard football pitch 400m Olympic running track NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium 600-seat auditorium Spaces for historical and cultural exploration An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad Specialist robotics and science laboratories AR and VR-enabled learning centres Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills %3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities. Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids. Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country's systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others. Name: Kumulus Water Started: 2021 Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid Based: Tunisia Sector: Water technology Number of staff: 22 Investment raised: $4 million Under the UK government's proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship. Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages. But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system. Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English. Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language. The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months. Director: Louis Theroux Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz Rating: 5/5 Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA Submit their request Fly it within visual line of sight Never over populated areas Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night Should have a live feed of the drone flight Drones must weigh 5 kg or less Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla Director: Raed Zeno Rating: 4/5 Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins Favourite dish: Grilled fish Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges. Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel Power: 579hp Torque: 859Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic Price: From Dh825,900 On sale: Now Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm Transmission: Eight-speed auto Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km On sale: December Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate) UAE fixturesMay 9, v MalaysiaMay 10, v QatarMay 13, v MalaysiaMay 15, v QatarMay 18 and 19, semi-finals May 20, final Updated: May 19, 2025, 11:40 AM
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Terrifying moment apocalyptic SANDSTORM engulfs 10,000 tourists leaving air thick with orange dust sparking evacuations
THIS is the spine-chilling moment a sandstorm engulfs more than 10,000 tourists - triggering mass evacuations out of a holiday hotspot. Frightening footage showed the moment freak weather struck thousands of visitors at a historic landscape in China. 3 3 3 The terrifying sandstorm hit the town of Dunhuang, in the west of the country, on May 3. A blood orange hue was seen descending over the region trapping helpless tourists inside the strong winds. The severe dust storm whipped up at around 6pm local time around the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Yueya Spring Scenic Spot. Hundreds of stranded tourists can be seen in the nightmarish scene, with some sitting on the floor and lines of others walking up a steep hill. Horrified onlookers take pictures and videos of the sandstorm which appears to have reduced visibility significantly. Separate footage showed the inside of a packed tourist bus taking visitors to safety - but without any visibility through the front window. The driver can barely see a few metres in front of his car, before the vehicle stops ahead of another car flashing its headlights through the dust. The Beaufort scale measured these powerful gusts at Force 12 as they tore through the city. Ticket sales were suspended after authorities swiftly activated the emergency response. The remote region is located on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Terrifying footage shows moment 300ft sandstorm engulfs Chinese city in apocalyptic scenes It is known for being one of the main stopping points on the ancient Silk Road trade route, which was used more than 2,000 years ago. The harrowing weather phenomenon sparked a city-wide amber emergency. All public and tourist activities were binned for the day, including an open-air concert. Recovery workers spent three hours evacuating stranded tourists from the affected areas. Deputy head of the city's traffic team Zhao Li said: "Over 80 trips have been made, with 142 vehicles dispatched, ensuring that the more than 5,200 tourists safely returned to the city center." What causes a sandstorm? by Harvey Geh The sun heats the ground intensely – in desert regions, the ground gets very hot during the day, warming the air just above it. The rising hot air creates a difference in air pressure, which causes strong winds to rush in to fill the gap. If the soil is dry and loose, the powerful winds begin to pick up tiny grains of sand and fine dust. These particles are carried at high speeds, often flying close to the ground but sometimes lifted high into the air. Thick clouds of sand can block out sunlight and reduce visibility to almost nothing. Sandstorms can sweep across entire cities or cross into neighbouring countries, depending on the strength of the wind. When the winds weaken, the sand and dust slowly settle back to the ground, leaving a coating of grit everywhere. The busses provided were free of charge to ensure all visitors were taken to a safe place as soon as possible. Tourist Guo Beibei said: "The wind was so strong once we were on top of the dunes that we couldn't even open our eyes. "We all sat there hoping it would pass, but it just got worse." Holidaymakers who could not be evacuated were put up in visitor centres and city council buildings until the storm passed.
The National
08-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Chasing sand storms: How UAE climate teams are preparing for adverse weather
Dust and sand storms have been sweeping the UAE in recent weeks, providing a challenge for weather and environment agencies that are working to forecast and prepare for their effects. On Thursday, the National Centre of Meteorology issued a fresh alert that winds reaching 45kph were blowing dust and sand, reducing visibility. Similar notifications have been issued by the UAE's weather watchdog over the past month. These followed a huge sandstorm that swept across Saudi Arabia and northern Iraq. These seasonal, yet increasingly erratic, events are a cause for concern not just in terms of what they mean for safety but also for air quality and health. Dust particles, for example, can affect vulnerable groups such as young children and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Dust storms are generally caused by a shift in weather systems as part of the transition from spring to summer. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi is working to understand the development of these storms, from their origins and trajectory to the effect they have on health. 'There's a fundamental difference between sand storms and dust storms,' Ruqaya Mohamed, the agency's section head for air quality, told The National. 'Sand particles are heavier – they don't stay in the air for long. But dust is finer and can linger in the atmosphere for days, travelling hundreds of kilometres.' The distinction is important. Sand storms tend to be localised, triggered by strong winds in open desert areas. But dust storms can become cross-border events, carrying harmful fine particles into cities where millions live. According to Dr Ahmed Habiba from the National Centre of Meteorology, the UAE faces two kinds of storm. 'Local storms happen with sudden, strong winds – we can forecast these three or four days in advance,' he said. 'Then there are the larger events that come from outside the UAE, especially from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. These are associated with the north-westerly, shamal winds.' The storm that hit Abu Dhabi in late April, which came from Iraq's Tigris-Euphrates basin, was one of the shamal storms Dr Habib is referring to. 'These storms need constant observation, hour by hour,' he said. 'Their impact depends on the storm's depth, density and path – sometimes they shift towards central Arabia, other times directly to us. But once we track the pattern, we can usually give a clear forecast up to 48 hours before impact.' While the meteorology centre handles storm forecasting, the environment agency zeroes in on what those storms leave behind – and how they affect human health. Using a network of air quality monitoring stations, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi continuously measures pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. This real-time data is made public through an air quality index portal, which uses a traffic light system to help residents gauge whether it is safe to jog, send children outdoors or open windows. 'Children are especially vulnerable,' Ms Mohamed said. 'Their lungs are still developing. During high pollution events, they're considered a sensitive group, just like the elderly or people with asthma.' Construction sites add another layer of risk. 'Major infrastructure projects kick up a lot of dust,' she said. 'This anthropogenic dust – man-made and local – combines with storm-carried particles, amplifying the impact.' With climate change disrupting weather patterns, dust storms are becoming more frequent, less predictable, and sometimes more intense. 'We've started to see some of these storms earlier than usual,' Ms Mohamed said. 'It's something we're monitoring closely.' To stay ahead, the environment agency launched a forecasting system last year that can model dust-related pollution up to 72 hours ahead. It allows the agency to anticipate pollution events and adjust its internal air quality management strategies accordingly. 'We're collecting massive amounts of data – minute-by-minute, 24/7,' Ms Mohamed said. 'AI could help us detect anomalies, identify patterns and even generate tailored reports. We're just beginning to scratch the surface.' In the near future, the agency is working to integrate satellite data – in collaboration with the UAE space agency – to expand coverage across the region. However, despite these advances, public education remains central and Ms Mohamed is clear that more needs to be done. 'We want a population that's literate when it comes to air quality,' she said. One example of this is the agency's sustainable schools initiative, where pupils are taught about pollution and visit air-monitoring stations to decode the science themselves. As Dr Habib observed, storms will continue to come from near or far. 'But the key is constant observation and regular updates,' he said. 'It's not just about predicting if it will happen – it's about knowing how deeply we'll be affected.'
The National
08-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Chasing sand storms: How UAE climate teams are better preparing for adverse weather
Dust and sand storms have been sweeping the UAE in recent weeks, providing a challenge for weather and environment agencies who are working to forecast and prepare for their effects. On Thursday, the National Centre of Meteorology issued a fresh alert that winds reaching 45km per hour were blowing dust and sand, reducing visibility. Similar notifications have been issued by the UAE's weather watchdog over the past month. These followed a huge sandstorm that swept across Saudi Arabia and Northern Iraq. These seasonal, yet increasingly erratic, events are a cause for concern not just in terms of what they mean for safety but also for air quality and health. Dust particles, for example, can affect vulnerable groups such as young children and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Dust storms are generally caused by a shift in weather systems as part of the transition from spring to summer. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi is working to understand the development of these storms, from their origins and trajectory to the effect they have on health. 'There's a fundamental difference between sand storms and dust storms,' Ruqaya Mohamed, the agency's section head for air quality, told The National. 'Sand particles are heavier – they don't stay in the air for long. But dust is finer and can linger in the atmosphere for days, travelling hundreds of kilometres.' The distinction is important. Sand storms tend to be localised, triggered by strong winds in open desert areas. But dust storms can become cross-border events, carrying harmful fine particles into cities where millions live. According to Dr Ahmed Habiba from the National Centre of Meteorology, the UAE faces two kinds of storm. 'Local storms happen with sudden, strong winds – we can forecast these three or four days in advance,' he said. 'Then there are the larger events that come from outside the UAE, especially from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. These are associated with the north-westerly, shamal winds.' The storm that hit Abu Dhabi in late April, which came from Iraq's Tigris-Euphrates basin, was one of the shamal storms Dr Habib is referring to. 'These storms need constant observation, hour by hour,' he said. 'Their impact depends on the storm's depth, density and path – sometimes they shift towards central Arabia, other times directly to us. But once we track the pattern, we can usually give a clear forecast up to 48 hours before impact.' While the meteorology centre handles storm forecasting, the environment agency zeroes in on what those storms leave behind – and how they affect human health. Using a network of air quality monitoring stations, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi continuously measures pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. This real-time data is made public through an air quality index portal, which uses a traffic light system to help residents gauge whether it is safe to jog, send children outdoors or open windows. 'Children are especially vulnerable,' Ms Mohamed said. 'Their lungs are still developing. During high pollution events, they're considered a sensitive group, just like the elderly or people with asthma.' Construction sites add another layer of risk. 'Major infrastructure projects kick up a lot of dust,' she said. 'This anthropogenic dust – man-made and local – combines with storm-carried particles, amplifying the impact.' With climate change disrupting weather patterns, dust storms are becoming more frequent, less predictable, and sometimes more intense. 'We've started to see some of these storms earlier than usual,' Ms Mohamed said. 'It's something we're monitoring closely.' To stay ahead, the environment agency launched a forecasting system last year that can model dust-related pollution up to 72 hours ahead. It allows the agency to anticipate pollution events and adjust its internal air quality management strategies accordingly. 'We're collecting massive amounts of data – minute-by-minute, 24/7,' Ms Mohamed said. 'AI could help us detect anomalies, identify patterns and even generate tailored reports. We're just beginning to scratch the surface.' In the near future, the agency is working to integrate satellite data – in collaboration with the UAE space agency – to expand coverage across the region. However, despite these advances, public education remains central and Ms Mohamed is clear that more needs to be done. 'We want a population that's literate when it comes to air quality,' she said. One example of this is the agency's sustainable schools initiative, where pupils are taught about pollution and visit air-monitoring stations to decode the science themselves. As Dr Habib observed, storms will continue to come from near or far. 'But the key is constant observation and regular updates,' he said. 'It's not just about predicting if it will happen – it's about knowing how deeply we'll be affected.'
Al Arabiya
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Iraq sandstorm closes airports, puts 3700 people in hospital
A sandstorm swept through Iraq, filling the air with choking dust that closed airports and put more than 3,700 people in hospital with breathing difficulties, the health ministry said Tuesday. Visibility fell to less than one kilometer (barely half a mile) in central and southern cities as the storm cloaked the region in an eerie orange haze, AFP photographers reported. Basra and Najaf airports both closed for the duration of the storm, which began to dissipate on Tuesday morning. Health ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr said Basra was the worst-hit province, accounting for more than 1,000 of the 3,747 hospital admissions attributed to the sandstorm. Many of those who dared to venture out in Basra wore face masks to protect themselves from the choking dust, an AFP photographer reported. Sandstorms are a perennial feature of life in central and southern Iraq but the environment ministry has warned the country can expect to suffer a rising number of 'dust days' in coming decades due to the impact of global warming. A heavy sandstorm in 2022 saw one person die and more than 5,000 treated in hospital for breathing difficulties.
