Haboob

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/haboob

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the meteorological trigger?Outflow boundaries from thunderstorms
2. What is the surface material?Dry, unconsolidated sediments in arid and semi-arid regions
3. Why do haboobs happen?They happen when a thunderstorm’s strong downdraft spreads out over dry ground, picking up sand and dust. The hot, dry air and loose soil in places like deserts make this easy.
4. Where do haboobs usually happen?Haboobs are most common in hot, dry places with lots of loose sand, such as the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, the Sahel, parts of the southwestern United States, and Australia.

Convective Activity: Atmospheric process involving the upward movement of warm, moist air, leading to cloud formation and storms.
Outflow Boundary: The leading edge of a thunderstorm's downdraft as it spreads horizontally across the surface.
Particulate Matter: Tiny solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air, such as dust, smoke, and pollen.