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Sand and dust storms usually occur when strong winds lift large amounts of sand and dust from bare, dry soils into the atmosphere. Over the last decade, scientists have come to realize the impacts on climate, human health, the environment and many socio-econimic sectors. WMO Members are at the vanguard in evaluating these impacts and developing products to guide preparedness, adaptation and mitigation policies. Sand and dust storms are common meteorological hazards in arid and semi-arid regions. They are usually caused by thunderstorms – or strong pressure gradients associated with cyclones – which increase wind speed over a wide area. These strong winds lift large amounts of sand and dust from bare, dry soils into the atmosphere, transporting them hundreds to thousands of kilometres away. Some 40% of aerosols in the troposphere (the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere) are dust particles from wind erosion. The main sources of these mineral dusts are the arid regions of Northern Africa,...

Horse Head Rock, within the Gulaga National Park. Horse Head Rock is one of the most unique and stunning rock formations found along the coast of NSW. It is located near Bermagui along the Sapphire Coast and is known to be one of the oldest rock formations in NSW, being around 500 million years old.  The distinctive resemblance to that of a horses head is what attracts so many photographers and nature lovers.

The Mushroom House or Pod House is a contemporary residence in the town of Perinton, New York, which has been featured in television programs (notably HGTV's Offbeat America series) and books (notably the Weird U.S. series)[3] due to its whimsical appearance. Patterned after umbels of Queen's Anne's Lace, its brown color is more suggestive of mushrooms. The house was constructed for attorney-artist couple Robert and Marguerite Antell between 1970 and 1972 and was designated a town landmark in 1989. The structure is sited in a moderately-wooded ravine adjacent to Powder Mills Park. The house itself comprises four 80 ton pods which rest on reinforced concrete stems of 14 to 20 feet in height. These fan out from three feet in diameter where they connect to the pods to five feet at the base. The sides of each pod's "cap" are completely windowed. One pod serves as the living and dining area, one as the kitchen, and two as sleeping areas. An additional "half po...

Located in one of the snowiest regions in Switzerland, the Furka Pass, connecting the cantons of Uri and Valais in the country’s south-central region, is considered to be one of the “most iconic, exhilarating and exciting drives” through the Swiss Alps. The scenic road with its tight switchbacks curving up the picturesque mountainside attracts countless tourists. There is the Rhone Glacier with its ice grotto—a one hundred meter long tunnel drilled through the glacier every year that glows in an unearthly shade of blue—as well as attractive options for hiking, climbing and skiing. The Furka Pass even played a brief cameo in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger. As the road switches back and forth hugging the side of the ountain, at one point near the top of the pass, it comes within 200 meters of the Rhone Glacier. It was here, in 1882, the young hotelier, Josef Seiler, built a hotel in one of the hairpin bends. Over the decades Hotel Belvédère became one of the most iconic hotels of t...

Vestrahorn Mountain Black Sand Beach, Iceland If you have been searching for a breathtaking photograph that shows the Earth’s natural beauty at its finest, then your search is over. Vestrahorn, on the Stokksnes peninsula in Iceland, has dramatic peaks reaching up to 454 meters (1490 ft). It rises out of a flat, black sand beach and dominates the view whilst a gentle clear lagoon laps at the shore. This stark contrast is sure to set your heart, and your Instagram, on fire. Lovingly nicknamed the “Batman Mountain” we can see why this mysterious mountain has been captivating visitors for years, but it is only recently receiving mainstream attention. Let’s take a closer look and see what secrets about Vestrahorn the “Batman Mountain” we can unearth.

  Lightning meets a rainbow ⚡🌈  Photography by @decak_iz_topole

THE KUMMAKIVI (FINNISH FOR “STRANGE ROCK”) can be found balanced upon another rock in the middle of the forest. This strange sight perplexed visitors since its discovery, and spawned stories of giants having balanced the rock in its position, but geologists have a more realistic explanation: glaciers. This isn’t the first balancing rock to be discovered, and scientists believe that glaciers - capable of carrying such a heavy rock with them - left it behind as they receded to the North over 8,000 years ago. The power of glaciers trumps even giants.