The sky is “full” of dust: these days we are witnessing a phenomenon whereby the sky seems dirty to us. It’s about Saharan dust: a flow of very hot air of desert origin, which is transporting, in fact, “large quantities of this dust”, giving rise to an intrusion of anomalous proportions – explains Lamma, (Laboratory of environmental monitoring and modeling for sustainable development created by the Tuscany Region and Cnr) -. The extension of the phenomenon and the dust concentrations predicted by the dispersion models are, in fact, considered unusual”.
What are Saharan dust
When we talk about this phenomenon, you must be referring to powders and not sand because the latter, being too heavy, cannot be transported in the atmosphere for thousands of kilometers away. The dust cloud from the Sahara is composed “mostly of tiny mineral fragments that were once rocks“, riporta National Geographic Italia.
Saharan dust can influence climate, as the particles can interact with solar radiation and change regional weather patterns. But it can also be harmful to health: “Scientists have long known that breathing fine dust is not good for your lungs – explains National Geographic Italia – There are many sources of harmful fine particles, such as burned fossil fuels and agricultural pollutants which load the air with corpuscles of substances that irritate the lungs. And dust, as it is blown by currents, can cause significant damage to the health of populations downwind“. Respiratory diseases are, in fact, one of the main causes of death in the world and “science has linked long periods of exposure to a higher risk of death from Covid-19”.
Harmful for health, but not for the ecosystem
This powder is an important source of nutrients, such as phosphorus and iron, for oceanic and terrestrial ecosystems far from the Sahara. It contributes to the fertility of many regions. So it is harmful to us, but not to the environment in which we live.
How long will the Sahara dust last?
According to 3B Meteo, the peak is expected between today and Saturday: “The forecast models estimate concentrations in the Center and North of up to 2000 mg per square meter, therefore quite high, enough to dye all surfaces red, especially our cars. Between Sunday and the beginning of the coming week, on average more westerly currents should bring clearer and cleaner skies. Between Saturday and Sunday, gradual dissipation of dust starting from the northern and western regions. As for the red rain, the areas where there will be thunderstorms will be able to see abundant falls of dust on surfaces, especially on cars. Where rain is not forecast, the dust that will manage to settle will be in significantly lower quantities.”
