Michael Dawes
Surfers Paradise Dust Storm_09232009 (43)
www.flickr.com/photos/tk_five_0/show/
The spectacular dust storm that swept through most of eastern Australia may have had its origins twelve months ago, says an Australian expert.
And with climate change set to bring more variability, Australia may experience more large scale dust storms in the future.
This week's dust storm covered a large area of eastern Australia, with PM10 (particles less than 10 micrometres) levels in most Australian cities being well above safe levels.
"They're classed as dangerous at levels above 200 micrograms per cubic metre," says ABC weather forecaster Graham Creed.
"In Sydney's east they're recording about 256, in the north-west 919, and in the south-west 1719. But Sydney is not the worst, Bathurst at the moment is 2665."
Severe weather forecaster Dr Deryn Griffiths of the Bureau of Meteorology says the dust storm started two days ago, when 100 kilometre per hour winds whipped up dust from the central region of Australia.
"It started in South Australia and has since extended across all of New South Wales and into Queensland."
She says extremely dry conditions throughout the interior of the country along with strong winds provided the perfect recipe for the dust storm.
Surfers Paradise Dust Storm_09232009 (43)
www.flickr.com/photos/tk_five_0/show/
The spectacular dust storm that swept through most of eastern Australia may have had its origins twelve months ago, says an Australian expert.
And with climate change set to bring more variability, Australia may experience more large scale dust storms in the future.
This week's dust storm covered a large area of eastern Australia, with PM10 (particles less than 10 micrometres) levels in most Australian cities being well above safe levels.
"They're classed as dangerous at levels above 200 micrograms per cubic metre," says ABC weather forecaster Graham Creed.
"In Sydney's east they're recording about 256, in the north-west 919, and in the south-west 1719. But Sydney is not the worst, Bathurst at the moment is 2665."
Severe weather forecaster Dr Deryn Griffiths of the Bureau of Meteorology says the dust storm started two days ago, when 100 kilometre per hour winds whipped up dust from the central region of Australia.
"It started in South Australia and has since extended across all of New South Wales and into Queensland."
She says extremely dry conditions throughout the interior of the country along with strong winds provided the perfect recipe for the dust storm.