Wind storm Owens Lake

When the Los Angeles Aqueduct diverted the water from the Owens River in 1924, the Owens Lake dried up. Most dry lakes have been dry for thousands of years, but because the Owens Lake dried so recently, that it has become a serious source of air pollution whenever the wind blows. It is estimated that 900,000-8,000,000 metric tons of alkali dust particles are blown into the air each year, making the Owens Lake the largest source of PM10 air pollution in the county. Because the particles are less than 10 microns, residents of the area suffer from respiratory ailments. Los Angeles has been charged with mitigating the dust, and does so by shallow flooding and the planting of salt grass. The project has significantly decreased the dust problem, and this dust storm, still hazardous to local residents, is probably smaller than it would have been before 2001.

[@Farsythe]

I just stumbled upon this video whilst randomly browsing stuff on CZcams.. Half of my family has the same last name.. interesting.

[@StereoSpace]

Looks like a fire!