Weather Tidbits: Dust Devils

This edition of Weather Tidbits will be discussing dust devils. Dust devils are dust-filled vortices that are generated by strong surface heating. When the ground heats up, the air begins to rise. As the air rises, lower pressure at the surface is formed. As the surface pressure lowers with the rising air, something needs to fill in the gap created. Thus, air rushes in to fill the developed low, which strengthens the circulation. This process is self-sustained, so dirt and debris is lofted into the air. Eventually, cooler air is picked up and entrained into the dust devil. This stabilizes the environment around the dust devil. Thus, the circulation is killed and the dust devil breaks down.