Saharan Dust Plume Hits US: Washington Post

Storm winds have pushed a thick, 5,000-mile long dust cloud from the Sahara Desert to the United State, deteriorating air quality even as the region struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic. “Although plumes of Sahara Desert dust are routinely ejected from Africa’s west coast during June, the ongoing event is extraordinarily rare, scientists said,” reports the Washington Post. “This event stands out in terms of the dust layer’s thickness, its low altitude and geographic reach, causing a dramatic deterioration in air quality in Puerto Rico, Barbados, Guadeloupe and numerous other locations where records are maintained.” The first cloud began crossing June 14 and more concentrations emerged 10 days later, following the same path. The finest, lightest particulates remain airborne, with hazardous air-quality ratings posing health risks and reducing visibility. The phenomenon is expected to influence weather patterns and may temporarily reduce Atlantic tropical storms. – YaleGlobal