Devastating desertification Photo

Photographer’s Note

The technical quality of this image is not that great as it was shot through a dirty aircraft window at over 30,000 ft, but I am posting it in the TrekEarth spirit of ‘teaching us about the world through photography’.

You may have seen on the TV news in recent weeks, images of the yellow dust and sand storms that have hit many cities in northern China (including the capital, Beijing) and have extended even as far as Korea and Japan.

This is the cause – desertification of the north-western provinces of Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. In this photograph you can see the desert engulfing the green farmland, burying fields, roads and buildings as it moves eastwards at a rate of about 20-30 metres a year - and about to encroach on a major river.

The yellow dust is picked up by seasonal winds and carried to heights of several thousand metres. As the yellow dust passes over northern China, it picks up pollutants, including agrochemicals, and there are reports of deaths caused by lung problems brought on by the yellow dust. Airline flights are disrupted and the dust infiltrates computer chip-making plants, ruining the chips. The economic costs are enormous.

2006 has been designated by the UN as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.

From the IYDD website:

“Desertification, in the words of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, is one of the world’s most alarming processes of environmental degradation. The issue is often obscured, however, by a common misperception: that it’s a ‘natural’ problem of advancing deserts in faraway developing countries.

In fact, desertification is about land degradation: the loss of the land’s biological productivity, caused by human-induced factors and climate change. It affects one third of the earth’s surface and over a billion people. Moreover, it has potentially devastating consequences in terms of social and economic costs.”

I took this from an Air China flight from Beijing to Urumqi in the autumn (the dust storms normally occur in the spring). I think it was somewhere around the Huang Valley, but I can’t be 100% sure as Chinese air routes take so many doglegs to avoid flying over military installations, it is difficult to know exactly where you are.

(Just as an aside: This photograph was the first time I have ever been able to capture a passenger jet in flight going in the opposite direction. As passenger jets cruise at about 850 kph, that means they cross at an effective speed of about 1,700 kph, so even if you have your camera ready by the window, usually by the time you have pressed the shutter release it has disappeared from view. Actually I didn’t know there was a plane in this image until I reviewed the shot on the LCD screen of my D100).

thor68, vagabondtravels, craiggc, Emmie76, moroskat, SamB, PJE, andante, hispic, sayan, feather, Mingfang, Fixfocus, cjmm, rabani, devimeuxbe, fireflyz, capthaddock, samrat_roy1, Stepan, jbweasle, stevep, Lynette, tsangclare, MLINES, klyee75, mumu3f, demneh, Leia74, leiju, ruisc_pt, ErikSven, Surfer31 trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Midnight_sun (1939) 2006-04-14 12:28

It's a big concern for the chinese, they just can't seem to stop the sand. There was a NG article about this a few years ago, they've tried spraying glue, growing tough plants, but it is just too big!

The plane gives a telling reminder of the polution we create which contributes to this.

brianreisinger (107) 2006-04-14 12:55

Interesting shot and an even more interesting description. I've been reading about the desert slowly taking over Beijing and their many [futile] efforts to prevent it by planting trees or grass... Thanks for sharing.

vagabondtravels (6115) 2006-04-14 14:06

Wow great shot. Amazing capture and what a TE photo. We are feeling the effects of the "yellow dust" here in Korea. Great work.

SamB (1948) 2006-04-14 19:40

Maybe not a great image technically, the note is incredible, and between the picture and the note this picture is of greater impact than many that are nearly technically perfect. Great work, and thanks for sharing!
sam

PJE (19483) 2006-04-14 20:06

David thanks so much for taking the time to share this world crisis that is sweeping our world. I am certain the advancement of desertifacation has an enormous effect on our weather in the world...and will contribute to further loss of life in the future.
You have done well to share this crisis on TE. This should be one of the main goals of this site...thanks for sharing!

vapours (7913) 2006-04-14 20:52

The image isn't great, as any photo from a plane usually is, but the composition is good enough as a worthy trekearth upload.

I just like the way you have included all the elements of a flight here, the ground, plane and the changing colour of the atmosphere.

Polonaise (5638) 2006-04-14 23:42

The problem with your site David, is: Once you're on - you just can't stop browsing. Again, it's 11:30 pm. and here I'm watching and reading.
You're telling us the world,David. The whole, wide world.
George

Have a great Easter, relaxing and peaceful.

andante (7092) 2006-04-15 0:33

David, thanks for your labor raising awareness about how we are killing our planet. Your note reminded of a CNN or BBC article in which it shows how much we have devastated the planet in the last 20 years. Your picture is a clear reminder.

Thanks for sharing,
Enrique

sayan (2609) 2006-04-15 5:44

Thanks David for your informative note. Regarding the picture, I would say that its your note that has made the picture so much interesting. TFS
Regards,

feather (49986) 2006-04-15 5:57

Thank you for reminding us of the plight we are causing. This photo is truly in the TE spirit and a scary sight.
What luck to catch the jet in your shot.
Kath

kensimage (8543) 2006-04-15 11:22

This truly does fit the motto, "Teaching us about the world through photography," David. The color and clarity are very good (what did you do, open the airplane window?) It's hard to imagine a clearer image of what desertification means. Artistically it's a nice balance of earth and sky and the airplane provides a fine, if accidental, accent. Thanks for posting/publicizing this. Regards, Ken.

RADEEH (2772) 2006-04-16 12:15

Oh !! This is a very very rare photo.You are very luky to get this one. As you said within the shutter speed it can disappear,congrats for this wonderful shot.
And thanks for this very informative shot with the note.

PeterC (2242) 2006-04-17 2:46

David,
A great shot it really does go along way to put in visual context the size of the desert with that plane in frame.Yellow dust is something living in Seoul you have to deal with its pretty bad and on a bad day you are confined to the house.
Cheers
Peter

elmec (12194) 2006-04-17 14:58

Hello David!
This is shocking photo!
That's very good that someone shows it!
Great note!
Regards!

Mingfang (1415) 2006-04-18 6:49

Hi David,

the sand storms still hit beijing today. the sky is full of yellow dust. we hardly breath, Pretty bad week! but so nice to read your photo and your excellent article that concern for chinese, but it is also a issue for the world, which likes Tsunami, Sars, birdflu...

it is amazing that you caught this scene. good timing and very educative. Well done!

Fixfocus (9377) 2006-04-18 13:13

Hi David,
Amazing contrast in light and colors,superb graphism and the plane below is a great detail.
Greetings,
Hermann

cjmm (4019) 2006-04-18 15:58

Hi David,

Very interesting image and brilliant note!

I quite agree with you in that photos do not need to be technically perfect to make a strong impact on viewers. Some of the most powerful images I have seen were taken by photojournalists, they might have imperfections but yet conveyed a strong message.

Best regards,
Carlos

rabani (9421) 2006-04-18 23:59

Hi David, This is a good photojournal. I'd say we need to have a monthly/weekly award or something for the TE Best Current Environmental Issue photo kind of things, to get photographers not only shooting dramatic still lives,anthropological, geographical but also environmental. A photo that kickasses to get something going, and not just simply droolable.
I think you have just started the ball rolling David.

devimeuxbe (56188) 2006-04-20 5:09

Hi David
Very interesting picture and note.
You captured a great moment with this plane under you.
Well done
Bertrand

fireflyz (2079) 2006-04-20 12:56

Hi David,
This is very beautiful and very sad at the same time. Thanks for such an informative note, David, you write some of the best ones here on TE. keep up the great work!
Cheers,
Skye

capthaddock (28640) 2006-04-23 17:46

Hi David - very interesting documentary, having the other plane adds a unique touch, I remember one year when I was living in Seattle one of those dust clouds made it all the way across the Pacific.

samrat_roy1 (683) 2006-05-01 5:49

hi

hats off to your shot and the note as well. i love the colour dynamics of the shot. you did a great job...through your dirty window!

thanks for sharing

Stepan (27175) 2006-05-03 13:08

Impressive shot : for the purpose and for the conditions... It's beautiful, serious and unexpected (for the second plance). Very well realized.
Stéphane

fabio_ts (13674) 2006-05-04 4:48

What a impressive POV Davit, it seems taken from a space shuttle.. :o)
excellent work with high definition and stunning contrast of colors.. BRAVO!!!

have a nice day,
Fabio.

jbweasle (9294) 2006-05-04 15:40

Hello David, this is a beautiful photograph but with such a concerning story behind it. It illustrates your fascinating note well. Also, well done for capturing the plane even if it was luck!

walkmania (315) 2006-05-10 5:49

This is a really great photo with wonderful contrast and details.Your informative note has added another dimension to this photo that concerns us all.Thank you!

donluicu (23927) 2006-05-29 11:33

My friend
this is an excellent picture..
teaches us a lot..
but we both know that the human is killing the future...don't we?
we're lucky to live in this epoque, what will happen in 100 years? NOthing really good for sure :-(

ciao

Lynette (1615) 2006-08-06 6:13

This is a wonderful great photo with beautiful contrast and details. Your note has also added another dimension to this photo that concerns us all.Thank you for sharing.
: ) lynette

tsangclare (130) 2006-08-06 6:20

Great shot from the plane! Its amazing that there's the passenger jet at the bottom of your photo.
Thanks for sharing! I have actually learnt a lot about desertification from your note.

Budapestman (42610) 2006-08-13 13:17

Hi David!
Fantastic impression! Excellent POV and composition! Beautiful mood! Thank you, nice days
George

klyee75 (774) 2006-08-20 0:59

With the plane below is the key subject the shot looks more interesting and stronger composition.

demneh (309) 2006-11-14 17:43

wow, just beautiful

Balrog (93) 2006-11-14 17:51

Wow i just love the dark blue of the sky. Nice shot.

leiju (1683) 2006-12-16 10:56

What an inpressive shot.
A very important issue and an excellent capture of not only this sight but alo the other aeoplane. Brilliant in every way. I won't say more. It's just perfect.

TFS!
Julia

ruisc_pt (6207) 2007-05-11 16:35 [Comment]

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ErikSven (270) 2007-05-11 16:35

Hello David,
OK, technically not perfect, but very very strong. Frightening picture, really. Instructive note too.
TFS & kind regards,
Erik

Voltri (1724) 2007-05-11 16:49

David, I like your photo -- it combined several very important elements.. well done!