Chinese sand over Tokyo

Yellow sand was observed for the first time this year in central Tokyo and outlying areas, according to Asahi Shimbun. Yellow sand was also detected in Kumagaya in neighboring Saitama Prefecture and Maebashi. More sand than usual will likely be carried to Japan from areas around the Yellow River. Yellow sand particles whipped up in the Taklimakan Desert and Loess Plateau in central China rise to an altitude of several thousands meters to be borne to Japan by westerly winds.

Mainichi also notes that huge clouds of yellow sand carried on strong winds from China covered areas of western Japan on Monday, reducing visibility and coating buildings with dust:

Meteorological officials said visibility in the cities of Nagoya, Tsu and Gifu was reduced to about 3 kilometers as a result of the sand. Because of the poor visibility, officials warned people to take care when driving on expressways in affected areas.

And it was even worse in Ulsan, South Korea yesterday, where visibility was about 1 kilometer, according to Yonhap. I wonder what it is like in China. Chosun Ilbo has more details and advice for people who suffer from asthma.

Comments

Pandabonium said…
As a pilot, I wonder what effect that has on the engine wear of aircraft engines?

Is this like the big muscular bully at the beach kicking sand in the face of the weakling?
5:46 pm, April 04, 2007
Martin J Frid said…
That sounds like a serious issue. Are airlines and private pilotes noticing any effects due to the sand? Even ordinary drivers ought to be getting some of that stuff into engines.
10:19 pm, April 04, 2007
Anonymous said…
I haven't read anything on that, but I am curious. When there are major volcanic eruptions the airborne material has actually ruined jet engines of airliners in some cases. I remember one story of a 747 losing power in all four engines due to volcanic ash in the atmosphere. They were able to restart them, but the engines had to be rebuilt.
9:36 am, April 07, 2007
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War

Image
A unique three-day international conference is being held at Makuhari near Tokyo, a day after the 61st anniversary of the enforcement of Japan's Constitution. It is organized by nongovernmental groups, including Japan-based Peace Boat . Organizers said the meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the significance of the constitutional article that endorses demilitarization and what people can do to promote its spirit, notes The Japan Times . While the constitution stipulates that Japan renounces war as a sovereign right and that it will not maintain land, sea and air forces, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has been keen to make amendments. "The war in Iraq has shown that even the strongest, biggest army in the world can not keep peace in a single city. It proves that aggression never instates peace," Tatsuya Yoshioka, director of Peace Boat and a representative of the event's organizing committee, said during the opening remarks. "Article 9 is a treasu
Read more

マーティンの鵜の目鷹の目 -世界の消費者運動の旅から

Image
  My new book has been published! マーティン・フリッド (著)   世界中の消費者が同じ課題を抱え、悩み、たたかっている。スウェーデンに生まれ、ヨーロッパ、そして日本の消費者運動の現場を歩いてきた著者が、人びとの日常によりそいながら軽妙なユーモアを交えて食、環境、エネルギー、社会のあり方、政治、経済を考えます。   https://nishoren.net/new-information/14177 Consumers all over the world are facing similar problems, worries, and struggles. In this book, the author, who was born in Sweden and has walked the frontlines of consumer movements in Europe and Japan, con
Read more

Salvador Dali, Hiroshima and Okinawa

Image
Spanish artist Salvador Dali was deeply terrified by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki , and his exact, detailed style was very much suited to show the horror of the A-bomb, which America tried to keep a secret by classifying photos and descriptions until the end of the occupation of Japan in 1952. The Bureau of Atomic Tourism has more details if you want to know more about the legacy of nuclear weapons in the U.S. Even today, do people understand the real horror of atomic bombs? If not, then, why not ? Dali's paintings are on display in Fukushima prefecture, where you can view Melancholy Atomic and Uranium Idyll and The Three Sphinxes of Bikini at the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art . Long YouTube video from the Nihon University (Nichidai) channel with an interview featuring Morohashi Eiji, the son of the founder of the unique museum, and scenes from the Morohashi Museum (29:20): #271美術館への誘い ダリの世界 Is there a hidden message in Dali's Bikini hydrogen bomb painting
Read more