File:Severe Dust Storm Blankets Eastern Asia (MODIS).jpg

English: Whipping winds carried a massive cloud of dust across China and the Korean Peninsula on April 11, 2023. The true-color image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite on that same day shows dense dust mixing with cloud over eastern China, the Yellow Sea, and the Korean Peninsula. The dust is so thick that the land and water underneath are obscured from view over much of the area. Outlines that follow the coastlines have been added to the image—without these, it would be very difficult to tell where the land meets the water.

Dust storms are common over China, especially in the spring, when strong winds sweep dust from the Gobi Desert. The Gobi Desert, located in Mongolia and northwestern China, is filled with copious amounts of dust and sand, which easily is lifted into the atmosphere by passing winds. Since March 10, China has experienced four severe dust storms—unusual in both severity and frequency even for springtime. It is also unusual for such a severe storm to reach the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Dust storms can create serious health issues, especially when particulate matter reaches high levels. On April 11, the Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center reported that PM10 concentrations measured more than 1,321 micrograms per cubic meter—a level almost 30 times the daily guideline set by the World Health Organization. PM10 are particles that measure less than 10 microns, allowing them to be inhaled and reach the lungs. On that same day, Air Korea reported “very unhealthy” air in more than a dozen locations in southern South Korea, especially Jeju Island (also known as Jeju-do), which sits off the southern tip of South Korea.