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Iraq
Giant sandstorm complicates fightCompiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 25, 2003
As coalition forces advance on Baghdad a powerful sandstorm is forecast to hit the region and challenge fighting forces with winds over 50 mph and near-zero-visibility.
[Times art: Don Morris]
A wall of sand
The powerful sandstorm is expected to be twice as strong as a storm that grounded helicopters and limited troop movement last week. The sandstorm is caused by hot dry winds rushing north to unstable weather and carrying a wall of sand that can be thousands of feet high.
Apache attack helicopter
Some effects in the air:
• Flights get canceled, limiting troop movement and bombing runs.
• Reduced visibility makes sighting targets difficult or impossible.
• Equipment such as helicopter rotors wear down and must be replaced.
• Sensitive technical instruments and mechanical equipment must be cleaned constantly of fine particles.
Some effects on the ground:
• Monitoring troop movement difficult.
• Targets hard to see.
• Moving parts in weapons malfunction.
• Added discomfort to troops already in heavy protective clothes.
• Troops suffer dehydration and respiratory complications.
Sources: New York Times, Acuweather
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