Indicator: LD-26 Dust storm index
Data
Total annual Dust Storm Index in relation to total annual rainfall at 46 stations across Australia for the period 1960 to 2004 - Plot of total annual rainfall (line plot) against total annual Dust Storm Index (drought years, black histogram bars) at 46 stations across Australia for the period 1960 to 2004.
Source: G.H. McTainsh, J.F. Leys and E.K. Tews 2006, Wind erosion trends for the National State of the Environment Report(2006): data and methods
What the data mean
The Dust Storm Index, calculated by giving weighted values to severe, moderate and local dust storms at recording stations across all states, provides not only an indicator of changes in the severity of dust storms but also a surrogate indicator for the severity of erosion leading to dust storms. Recent data show that in 2002, when rainfall was at its lowest since before 1960, the highest Dust Storm Index since 1966 was recorded. Dust storms were consistently high in the 1960 but, with the exception of another peak with the 1994 drought, have been consistently lower in subsequent decades. Moderate rainfall in 2004 corresponded to a reduction in the index.
Data Limitations
Pre-European settlement dust storm data are not available. It is therefore not possible to analyse how the post settlement dust storm frequency and intensity compare with frequency and intensity prior to European settlement when, according to the National Land and Water Resources Audit, there was little bare soil in Australia.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Land - Contributions and pressures between the land and the atmosphere - Airborne substances
Area of exposed soil is an indication of the quantity of unstable soil available to contribute to dust storms.
Other indicators for this issue:
- LD-04 Area and change in area of exposed soil surface contributing to erosion
- CO-70 Examples or case studies of localised impacts of windborne dust and smoke
Land - Land condition - Soil stability and quality
Soil stability is essential to the health of the vegetation growing in it and the other biodiversity inhabiting that vegetation. However, vegetation is also essential to maintaining soil stability.
Area of exposed soil is therefore indicative of both the current and future condition of land.
Other indicators for this issue:
- LD-04 Area and change in area of exposed soil surface contributing to erosion
- LD-05 Terrestrial carbon loss rate and rate of land carbon sequestration
- LD-39 Change in biomass stock
Land - Direct pressure of human activities on the land - Soil loss and loss of soil quality
As well as being indicative of land condition in relation to soil stability and vegetation, changes in area of exposed soil are indicative of both the pressure of land clearing on the land and of the pressure of soil loss on the land's capacity to revegetate.
Other indicators for this issue:
- LD-04 Area and change in area of exposed soil surface contributing to erosion
- LD-05 Terrestrial carbon loss rate and rate of land carbon sequestration
- LD-39 Change in biomass stock
Atmosphere - Air quality - Regional air quality
Dust storms can have a major impact on regional air quality.
Other indicators for this issue:
- A-24 Concentrations of carbon monoxide in regional areas
- A-25 Concentrations of ozone in regional areas
- A-26 Concentrations of lead in regional areas
- A-27 Concentration of nitrogen dioxide in regional areas
- A-28 Concentrations of sulphur dioxide in regional areas
- A-29 Concentrations of Particles PM10 and PM2.5 in regional areas
- A-30 Concentration of benzene in regional areas
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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