Cargo ship gets hit by a huge sandstorm in the Suez Canal

Cargo ship gets hit by a huge sandstorm in the Suez Canal

A dust storm, also called a sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Sandstorms 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

The arid regions of North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and China are the main terrestrial sources of airborne dust. It has been argued that poor management of Earth's drylands, such as neglecting the fallow system, are increasing the size and frequency of sandstorms from desert margins and changing both the local and global climate, as well as impacting local economies