Huge Dust Storm over Great Plains Captured by MODIS

In the 1930s the Great Plains became know as the great dust bowl when hugs dust storms were created from a long period of heat an drought. In October 2012 the MODIS instrument on the AQUA satellite captured a large dust storm created by similar conditions caused by months if drought. The storm happened on October 18th 2012. The dust appeared to have source points in southern Nebraska, though more localized sources in Kansas and Oklahoma also may have contributed. Many farms in the region are plowed in the fall for the planting of winter crops, so soils were loosened and ready for pickup by the wind.

High winds carried the dust as high as 4000 feet into the air.  These winds cause blackouts in some areas and were reported to tip over trucks. The problem was added to by the fact that farmers were plowing fields. This is very similar to the dust bowl conditions in the 1930s

References

1. Associated Press, via Yahoo News (2012, October 18) Dust storm shuts down interstate in northern Oklahoma. Accessed October 19, 2012.
2. Casper Star-Tribune (2012, October 18) Wyoming DOT re-opens I-80 east of Cheyenne. Accessed October 19, 2012.
3. Climate Central (2012, October 19) Powerful Windstorm Winds Down in Plains, Midwest. Accessed October 19, 2012.
4. Climate Central (2012, October 18) Winter Wheat Crop Now Feeling Impact of U.S. Drought. Accessed October 19, 2012.
5. National Weather Service (2012, October 19) Damaging winds expected to quiet by end of today, conditions mostly return to near normal. Accessed October 19, 2012.
6. The Wichita Eagle (2012, October 18) High winds create Dust Bowl effect over Wichita area. Accessed October 19, 2012.