Comments on The Dust Event of April 1998 - Slide Show

Eyewitness Accounts of the Asian Dust Event Generates Excitement
This is a terrific slide show documenting the April 1998 Asian dust event, and the use of the web for rapid response collaboration. However, I do not think the slide show quite captures all of the excitement and interest created by this unusual event due to the fact that people could actually see the dust, but were unable to determine its source. Thus, creating an irresistible puzzle. How about adding a page after the Observations of the Asian Dust Event…. title page listing some of the eye witness accounts from the forum section, For example:

The dust event was plainly visible to all observers, but the unusually circumstances surrounding the haze belied an obvious explanation for its origin:

"I also noted the hazy, miliky appearance to the sky in the Western Mojave Desert (Tehachapi and California City) on Sat/Sun 4/25-26. At first I attributed this to dust from the Owens Valley (strong north winds on Sat). But on later examination that did not make sense. Several other staff met in my office also noted the milky appearance to the sky, but none suspected it as a dust source.……" Rogers Walter

"I first became aware of dust on morning of 4/28, preparing to join colleague and travel to Edwards AFB in Mojave Desert. Naturally thought it would be windy, but surprised to find calm winds but persistent high haze at Edwards. Source then became a puzzle and was very surprised to learn later of the Chinese origin……………" Conel Jim

"I caught a blurb about the dust storm on ABC News on Tuesday, 21 April; over the days that followed, I began to look for signs of dust on the GOES-9 imagery. What I saw was more impressive than I had expected!" Bachmeier Scott

"About the Dust Storm: It was reported that the dust storm begun from a large area of Gansu Province in northwest China, early morning on April 15th. With strong winds, the surface visibility has declined from 700 meter to below 5 meters. About 36 hours later, muddy rain occurred over Beijing. Cars on the highways were gaily decorated with the yellow mud spots after the special shower." Li Fang

Submitted by Schichtel Bret on 5/12/98
RecID: Body.RudolfHusar.CF.BretSchichtel
Feedback.. so learning is not left to chance.
OK, here is the first iteration slide show. The most beneficial comments are critical and constructive, so do not hesitate to speak out, give us your perspective. A PowerPoint version will be available shorly.
Submitted by Husar Rudolf on 5/12/98
RecID: Body.RudolfHusar.CF.RudolfHusar
Re: Feedback.. so learning is not left to chance.
I wish to thank Rudy Husar and all others who have organized and contributed to this web site. This particulate event was transitory in nature, much like the ongoing smoke event over South Texas (where on 8 May 1998 the solar UV-B index was reduced by half due to thick smoke). Yet this site shows how the scientific community can quickly form a study team via the web. Would such a capability had been in place when Pinatubo erupted in June 1991. Thanks to Rudy et al., it will now be possible to coordinate observations the next time a really major event takes place--or even transitory events such as the China dust episode. I'm shortly off to Hawaii where dust from the Gobi desert often arrives this time of year. When present, this dust colors the twilights and can be easily seen against the flanks of Mauna Kea when I am up at the Mauna Loa Obseervatory.
Submitted by Mims Forrest on 5/12/98
RecID: Body.RudolfHusar.CFBody.RudolfHusar.CF.RudolfHusar.ForrestMims


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