The Haboob: Wall of Dust

A haboob is an intense dust storm found across arid regions worldwide. The Arabic word means blasting or drifting.

When a thunderstorm collapses, cold air rushes downward. This downburst sweeps up silt and clay.

This wall of airborne sediment can be up to 100 km wide. Rain often evaporates before reaching the ground.

The term was first applied to North American dust storms in 1972. Arizona adopted it after 1999.

These dust walls stretch across vast distances.

Near Alice Springs, haboobs leave up to 30 centimetres of sand behind.

If driving during a haboob, pull over and turn off your lights. Otherwise, drivers might follow you into the void.

Dust storms on Titan are compared to haboobs, but clouds there hold liquid methane droplets.