Fluid Dynamics of Sandstorms

Sandstorms are extreme, uncontrollable natural phenomena that pose significant hazards. Accurate forecasting, which is key to hazard mitigation, depends on a deep understanding of their formation and evolution. The complexity of sandstorm dynamics arises from the coexistence of and competition between thermal and shear turbulence; the interactions among the wind, dust, temperature, and electric fields; the spatiotemporal multiscale nature of turbulence and sand movement; and the multiple processes of heat/mass transfer, electrification, and collision—each responding differently throughout the nonstationary and nonequilibrium evolution of sandstorms. These complexities present important case studies and new challenges for contemporary turbulence research. Based on a critical review, this article summarizes recent advances in the turbulent characteristics of various physical fields in sandstorms, their dominant factors and origins, and improvements in sandstorm forecasting. From the perspective of sandstorm fluid dynamics, issues for future research are proposed, including full-scale field measurements, controlled experiments, and numerical modeling.