posted on Jan, 18 2011 @ 02:11 PM
Not a big deal, but just to clarify: this is technically a "duststorm", not a sandstorm.
Sandstorms rarely reach higher than 5-6', contain small, heavy, sand granules (typically quartz/silicon and other heavier components that are too
heavy to get much higher above the ground than about human-height), are accompanied by very strong winds, can cause significant damage from
ablation/abrasion, and are generally localized, covering a much smaller area than:
Dust storms, which can reach a thousand feet or more in altitude, accompanied by slower winds, contain fine particles of dust and silt (such as
loess), and are much larger in breadth and scope than sandstorms, often covering hundred or even thousands of square miles.