Worst sandstorm in a decade cloaks Beijing in apocalyptic haze
15 Mar, 2021 11:12 PM
3 minutes to read
The sandstorm enveloping Beijing is forecast to last a few days as the dust clouds blow further south. Photo / AP
The sandstorm enveloping Beijing is forecast to last a few days as the dust clouds blow further south. Photo / AP
Daily Telegraph UK
By: Sophia Yan
Beijing was cloaked in an apocalyptic yellow-brown haze today, with skyscrapers obscured behind layers of sand and dust as China s capital experienced the worst sandstorm in a decade, threatening the health of millions.
Strong winds blew sand from the Gobi desert across much of northern China, including as far west as Xinjiang region. Poor visibility caused hundreds of flights to be grounded and cancelled while traffic choked the roads.
Biggest sandstorm in decade sweeps northern China By Li Hongyang in Beijing and Yuan Hui in Hohhot | China Daily | Updated: 2021-03-16 07:09 Share CLOSE Commuters brave a sandstorm in Beijing on Monday. The capital, together with many regions in northern China, experienced the strongest sandstorm in nearly a decade, according to the National Meteorological Center. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY
A sand and dust storm from Mongolia swept through northern areas of China on Monday and led to the suspension of classes at schools and flight cancellations.
The sandstorm was the strongest in nearly a decade and affected 12 provincial-level regions in northern China, according to the National Meteorological Center.
HARRY BAKER, LIVE SCIENCE
15 MARCH 2021
Beijing has been enveloped in one of its most severe sandstorms in over a decade, which has combined with air pollution to create a toxic, gritty haze that turned skies orange and made the skyline disappear.
The sandstorm hit the Chinese capital on Monday morning (March 15) after gale-force winds from Mongolia blew dust from the Gobi desert over the border. In Mongolia, 341 people are missing after the same sandstorm blew across the country, according to
Worsening the situation, Beijing s air pollution has been rising in recent weeks as the country comes out of lockdown. The Air Quality Index (AQI) for the city maxed out at a hazardous 999, according to the World Air Quality Index project. For context, at the same time, the AQI for New York was 26.
Coonoor tea auction prices rise; 85% sold
March 16, 2021
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After a fortnight of price fall, the average price at Sale 10 of the auctions of Coonoor Tea Trade Association rose to ₹122.67 a kg from ₹121.86 in the previous auction.
Despite this price rise, 85.48 per cent of the offer was sold against 83.30 per cent in the previous week because of better demand and rise in the quality of the teas on offer.
Crosshill Estate Special Pekoe Dust grade, auctioned by Global Tea Brokers, topped the entire auctions when Vora Sons bought it for ₹ 277 a kg.
Crosshill Estate Special’s Red Dust and Pinewood Estate got ₹ 271 each, Riverside Estate ₹ 234, Shanthi Supreme ₹ 222, Hittakkal Estate and Kannavarai Estate ₹ 215 each, Waver Tree ₹ 213, Vigneshwar Estate and Hiribel Excel ₹ 211 each and Bellatti Estate ₹ 203.
Over the last month, parts of Europe were hit by intense dust storms. First, a massive dust plume that originated in northeast Algeria caused reddish skies in large parts of Europe. Then, dust deposits tinted the snow-covered Pyrenees and the Alps brown. In late February, a Saharan dust outbreak severely affected the Canary Islands before heading toward continental Europe, reaching as far north as Scandinavia.
While such intense and persistent dust activity is unusual, it’s not uncommon for Europe to experience a few large dust outbreaks every year.
Why is dust a problem?
Desert dust is produced by wind erosion of arid and semi-arid surfaces. It affects weather, climate and atmospheric chemistry, delivers iron and phosphorus to land and ocean ecosystems, and increases photosynthesis and biological productivity.