INTRO | HIGHLIGHTS | FEATURES | INTERVIEWS | PERSPECTIVES
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WIND-BLOWN SAND HAZARDS TODAY
SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY, and especially since the First World War, the
stabilisation and maintenance of sand dunes through the establishment and
protection of plant species has become a priority and as a result, the threat
posed by wind-blown sand to British communities has largely been eliminated.
Despite this, problems are not entirely a thing of the past, East Lindsey,
Lincolnshire, was inundated by sand last spring, causing problems particularly
affecting infrastructure. Wind-blown sand is also a problem in many other
parts of the world, such as in Western Australia, on the west coast of the US,
as well as in desert countries where there are numerous examples. Wind-blown
sand can also cause dust storms, as has recently been the case in Beijing
and neighbouring regions. With the potential for devastation demonstrated
by medieval examples and the increased storminess of recent winters, the
maintenance of protective vegetation and active monitoring of sand dune
environments must remain a priority.
/// KEY MESSAGES FOR POLICY
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Communities have a long history of finding ways
to build resilience to natural hazards. Modern
preparedness and adaptation planning needs
to acknowledge this established wealth of
community-based knowledge and experience.
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The greatest challenges to communities from
natural hazards arise when new, unexpected or
very sudden hazards occur.
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Today we need to improve the ways that local
civic intelligence and scientific expertise can
be harnessed together to address changing
environmental hazards.
Below: Sand storm approaching in Iraq.
Right: Dust storm in the Gobi Desert, China.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team.
/// REFERENCES AND FURTHER