USMC, USN, USAF Photo Gallery of the Day: When Iraq's Strong Desert Winds Blow -- Have Mercy!

DefenseLINK News Photos; Navy NewsStand - Eye on the Fleet | April, May 2005; March 2003; May 2005 | Alicia M. Garcia, USMC; Aaron Ansarov, USN; Darcie Ibidapo, USAF

[EnjoyingLife]

Photo #1. 050505-F-4903I-191, 5 May 2005, Sandstorm over Tallil Air Base, Iraq. The Photographer: Staff Sgt. Darcie Ibidapo, United States Air Force (USAF). The Links: http://www.DefenseLINK.mil/DODCMSShare/NewsPhoto/2005-05/050505-F-4903I-191.jpg (big image, high-resolution), http://www.DefenseLINK.mil/photos/NewsPhoto.aspx?NewsPhotoID=6526 (source), http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20061106.htm (ALT text, smaller image)




Photo #2. 050427-M-5607G-001, 27 April 2005, Evening sandstorm arriving at Al Asad, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The Photographer: Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia, United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Links: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/050427-M-5607G-001.jpg (large image, high-res), http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=23979 (source), http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20061106.htm (ALT text, smaller image)



Photo #3. 050427-M-5607G-006, 27 April 2005, Yep, these early nightfall sandstorm clouds will definitely engulf Al Asad, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The Photographer: Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia, United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Links: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/050427-M-5607G-006.jpg (big image, high-res), http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=23980 (source), http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20061106.htm (ALT text, smaller image above)




Photo #4. 050517-M-5607G-060, 17 May 2005, Above the sandstorm, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The Photographer: Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia, United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Links: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/050517-M-5607G-060.jpg (big image, high-res), http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=24697 (source), http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20061106.htm (ALT text, smaller image above)




Photo #5. 050505-F-4903I-191, 25 March 2003, Central Command Area of Responsibility: Builder 3rd Class Kristalyn Kae Nelson endures a major sandstorm with wind speeds greater than 50 knots = 57.5 miles/hour (MPH) = 92.6 kilometers/hour (Conversions courtesy of "Online Conversion - Common Speed and Velocity Conversions"). The Photographer: Photographer's Mate 1st Class Aaron Ansarov, United States Air Force (USAF). The Links: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/030325-N-4309A-010.jpg (big image, high-resolution), http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=12297 (source)

[EnjoyingLife]

Have these Iraqi sandstorms been caught on video? Any publicly available video links?

[armymarinemom]

Talil must notorious for sand storms. My son sent photos they tried to take in the middle of one while they were moving forward in 2003.

[Moose4]

Wow. #2 and #3 are very scary-looking.

}:-)4

[gridlock]

Once you see one of these things moving toward you, you never forget it.

[Doogle]

here ya go


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saNz_VLFfq8&search=Sandstorm


Doogle

[BMC1]

Looks like Arizona during Monsoon season.

[IamConservative]

I saw a sand wall / storm like that coming across the Yuma desert one time. The sight makes one feel very vulnerable and insignificant.

[Doogle]

and another..(I haven't check for content yet)..*smiles*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8YAFQYXsLA&search=Sandstorm


Doogle

[JFC]

West Texas in the spring time! We have seen many a bad day like that... But we have buildings to be closed in, I can imagine being in a tent. It causes all kinds of respiratory ailments.

[AliVeritas]

BTTT

[MikefromOhio]

West Texas in the spring time! We have seen many a bad day like that... But we have buildings to be closed in, I can imagine being in a tent. It causes all kinds of respiratory ailments.

It really depends on how sturdy your tent is. Ours wasn't so we usually had more sand in it than others did. That said, we didn't get storms like this near Baghdad as much as they did further west and south.

[SF Republican]

LUBBOCK, TEXAS

[JFC]

Yeap, I live here, and I have seen it roll in like that many times.... then start to sprinkle 20 drops. That makes a mess!

[JFC]

However, we being, Lubbock Tx folk, was ranked on CNN site as best place in the country to live!

SHSHHHHHHHOOOOSH... We really don't want Lubbock to turn into a Blue Town. We like it just the way it is.....

[YellowRoseofTx]

We've had our vehicles sand blasted here in West Texas, but the sand in Saudi was different. Blew like these pics, but didn't do the damange to vehicles it does here, but I did have vacuum the sheets on our beds every day because the sand blew in through closed doors and windows.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Here's another video, also from YouTube, taken as the sand cloud approaches the camp and coming towards the person videotaping the event. It's choppy and slow in the beginning, but the most interesting part is at the end.

Insane Sandstorm in Iraq, submitted July 2006:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTIZNEip8Es

[Allegra]

Once you see one of these things moving toward you, you never forget it.

You've got that right.

I took this one in downtown Baghdad, July 2005. This storm alsted two days and on the first day, it was almost as dark as night at noon.

[AmeriBrit]

So California High Desert 2003, just north of Edwards AFB.

[EnjoyingLife]

Hyacinth Bucket and Doogle: Why I didn't think to search YouTube.com--oh never mind. So thank you both very much for the links. I wonder if it'd be worth developing a list of the best Sandstorm clip.

Allegra: How do you survive in a sandstorm that lasts two days? What about food that doesn't have a generous sand content? And water? And electricity? And bugs and other pests? The sand must wreck havoc on aircraft, cars, trucks, etc, etc, etc.

AmeriBrit: Who snapped that picture of the approaching sandstorm in "So California High Desert 2003, just north of Edwards AFB"? Have you seen a larger (high-res) version of the photo? That thing is a huge rolling wall, of, of, of sand!

Looking at the photos and video it's easy to understand how a very deep impression is left on the mind of those who have experienced these huge sandstorms. I can also understand how cities, villages, caravans could be completely permanently buried should the storm continue for a longer period of time; or if extraordinary quantities of sand continue to pile.

IamConservative (comment #7) is right: "The sight makes one feel very vulnerable and insignificant."

[antidisestablishment]

That looks suspiciously like California City? All those roads are still empty. LOL!