A stunning red sky was observed in Australia as Tropical Cyclone Narelle approached this weekend. This unusual phenomenon is due to the high levels of iron oxide (rust) in the desert sand and soil, which is whipped up by strong winds into the atmosphere.
According to a top dust expert, Tom Gill, from the University of Texas – El Paso, the red color is intensified by the interaction of sunlight with the iron-rich dust particles, causing longer wavelengths like orange and red to dominate. This creates a spectacular visual effect that is reminiscent of brilliant sunsets and sunrises.
Dust storms caused by tropical cyclone winds are rare, but when strong winds cross over dry desert areas, they can generate heavy dust storms. This unusual occurrence surprised Gill, as typically dust storms are associated with rain. Similar events have been observed with eastern Pacific hurricanes moving into the southwestern U.S.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall in Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia, a rare event in Australian meteorological history. The last storms to make landfall in multiple Australian states and territories were Cyclone Ingrid in 2005 and Cyclone Steve in 2000, as noted by NASA. Dust storms and wildfires have previously created apocalyptic scenes, leading to references in popular culture such as The Fixx’s song “Red Skies.”
