Nature of Sand and Dust Storm in South Asian Region: Extremities and Environmental Impacts

Abstract

Sand and dust storms (SDS) are very important atmospheric extreme events that occurred under the influence of turbulent winds with dust particles in any arid region. These are the lower atmospheric meteorological events and their environmental implications are being recognized in recent years due to their growing significance with the climate, human health, and socio-economy. The SDS involves a reduction of visibility to less than 1000 m. The identification of SDS events and their frequency is important to assess their role as climatological and geomorphological agents. The SDS events pose a challenge to the goals of sustainable development. Generally, SDS is a common atmospheric phenomenon in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, though it can travel thousands of kilometers across the countries and oceans, and depends on the wind speed and particle size distribution. Sometimes, SDS accumulate other pollutants on their way and transport them from one place. On the routes of transportation SDS also affects the regional biogeochemical cycle. SDS have a several beneficial and adverse impact on the environment. The primary impacts of SDS events include atmospheric radiation balance, regional precipitation, and hurricane activity. The SDS events are also responsible for elevated levels of fine particulates in the atmosphere that are associated with premature mortality and cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems, lung carcinoma, and severe respiratory tract infections. Such inhaled fine particle is not only composed of fine mineral particles but also contains a hazardous mixture of chemicals, spores, microorganisms, fungi, and harmful allergens. Apart from their adverse effects on human health, they also pose several economic impacts such as disturbance of infrastructures, transportation, and supply chain set-ups. SDS events are also responsible for the elimination of the top fertile layer of the soil resulting in the decrease in the mineral content in the soil that ultimately affects the plant health and productivity of the landmass. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolutions entitled “Combatting sand and dust storms” in 2015 and mentioned that SDS signify a major obstruction to the sustainable development that affect developing nations and their peoples. The objective of the current paper is to understand the nature and phenomena of SDS processes, current and past trends of SDS impacts, as well as to understand the impact of SDS hazards on environment and human health as well as extremities and their correlation with climate change.