Dust from the Great Salt Lake blowing east towards the Wasatch Mountains. (VIDEO)
Caption
A dust event recorded on May 17, 2023 by a camera located on the University of Utah campus, facing south. The cameras are maintained by the U's Department of Atmospheric Sciences and MESO West. This event was not included in the study, but is typical of springs storms that were included in the study. Strong winds can loft dust into the atmosphere and degrade air quality, and deposit onto the snowpack on the Wasatch Mountains. Dust-on-snow deposition requires a specific set of factors; nearby dust sources, relatively dry conditions and winds that are strong enough to loft dust into the atmosphere. These conditions are often met ahead of windy spring storms.
Credit
University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences and MESO West.
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License
CC BY-NC-ND