What's The Point???

10/2/88

Space.com slop below.

How do they show a Saharan sand storm
and not mention global climate change???

The dynamic forces of nature are very evident in this high-oblique, southwest-looking view of northern Chad. In addition to producing dramatic expression in wind streaks aligned in a northeast-southwest direction, nature has created a unique landscape by the predominate wind that begins in the Libyan Desert and blows toward the southwest across Djourab Sand Region of central Chad. A well-entrenched, wind-eroded pattern is clearly visible in this Saharan landscape as the dominate surface winds are being funneled between the two more resistant landform features-the Tibesti Mountains, which are mainly volcanic in origin, seen along the northwestern edge of the photograph, and the sandstone plateau area known as the Ennedi Plateau, visible along the eastern edge of the photograph. Each of these more resistant features is dark colored. The Tibesti Mountains, the highest mountain range in the Sahara Desert, cover a much broader areal extent than the Ennedi Plateau. The Ennedi Plateau is less resistant to wind and water erosion forces; thus, it is being eroded at a higher rate than the Tibesti Mountains. When wind speeds attain sufficient velocities, sand particles are transported in the lower atmosphere causing a duststorm, such as the one that is pictured here in the Djourab Sand Region of central Chad. Two dark features are barely visible toward the southern horizon of this photograph: The vague outline of Lake Chad is visible, and the vegetative transition zone known as the "Sahel," or the greening line, is barely visible where the nonvegetated desert meets the semiarid grassland region of southern Chad.

Photos Courtesy of NASA

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