2009 Australian dust storm

2009 Australian dust storm
MODIS Terra satellite image of the dust storm over eastern Australia taken on 23 September 2009
Formed22 September 2009
Dissipated24 September 2009
FatalitiesNone
DamageNone
Areas affected Australia
 New Zealand
 New Caledonia, France

The 2009 Australian dust storm, also known as the Eastern Australian dust storm, was a dust storm that swept across the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland from 22 to 24 September 2009. The capital, Canberra, experienced the dust storm on 22 September,[1][2] and on 23 September the storm reached Sydney and Brisbane. Some of the thousands of tons of dirt and soil lifted in the dust storm were dumped in Sydney Harbour and the Tasman Sea.

On 23 September, the dust plume measured more than 500 kilometres (310 mi) in width and 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) in length and covered dozens of towns and cities in two states.[3] By 24 September, analysis using MODIS at NASA measured the distance from the northern edge at Cape York to the southern edge of the plume to be 3,450 km.[4] While the cloud was visible from space, on the ground the intense red-orange colour and drop in temperature drew comparisons with nuclear winter, Armageddon, and the planet Mars.[5][6][7]

The dust storm was described by the Bureau of Meteorology as a "pretty incredible event" that was the worst in the state of New South Wales in nearly 70 years.[5][6][8][9] The phenomenon was reported around the world. The Weather Channel's Richard Whitaker said: "This is unprecedented. We are seeing earth, wind and fire together". It was later referred to as "The mother of all dust storms."[10]

  1. ^ Penny McLintock (22 September 2009). "Canberra disappears in the dust". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  2. ^ Megan Doherty (23 September 2009). "Dust, hail and deluge". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  3. ^ Largest dust storms in 70 years cover Sydney The Daily Telegraph
  4. ^ "Dust over Eastern Australia". NASA – Earth Observatory. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  5. ^ a b Nichola Saminather and Ed Johnson (23 September 2009). "Sydney Hit by 'Nuclear Winter' as Dust Storm Envelops City". Bloomberg. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  6. ^ a b Toni O'Loughlin (23 September 2009). "Australia engulfed by dust storms". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  7. ^ Ian Woods (23 September 2009). "Giant Dust Storm Causes Havoc in Sydney". Sky News. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Melbourne Airport warns of delays was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Sydney dust storm worst in 70 years, says weather bureau". The Australian. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Severe dust storm sweeps Australia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).