Center for a New American Security

A severe drought-induced dust storm smothered eastern Australia on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, stretching from northern Queensland all the way to the southern tip. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News, the dust storm originated in abandoned agriculture fields that have not been planted on since the beginning of a multi-year drought. ABC News reported that the storm was the worst in 70 years and led to canceled flights, traffic collisions, respiratory health issues, and prevented firefighting operations near Brisbane where 20 wildfires rage on. According to the New Zealand Herald, Wednesday's dust storm even crossed the 2,160 kilometres Tasman Sea and fell on Auckland on Friday. Officials in Sydney warned that the city could face a second dust storm over the next several days.

As climate change exacerbates drought conditions, dust storms may become more severe and leave more communities susceptible to disruptions. For example, local communities in California have experienced drought-induced dust storms in the past. Worsening drought in California could increase the frequency and intensity of dust storms there.

Photo: Dust over eastern Australian. Courtesy of Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.