Fine particles act as nutrients, and may include carbon, retain water, and generally improve the soil quality. Satellites have been sentinels in space, examining the earth since the 1960s to detect changing weather patterns, land use, deforestation, melting ice caps and fire patterns. See our, Read a limited number of articles each month, You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads, Unlimited access to washingtonpost.com on any device, Unlimited access to all Washington Post apps, No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking. Dust plumes blown in from the Sahara Desert in North Africa will be fuzzing up the skies over Austin this week and possibly bother people with respiratory problems, so … You also agree to our Terms of Service. We rely on readers like you to uphold a free press. Dust also allows for the transfer of microbiological material. Project associates from the University of Pretoria are currently examining whether dust sources carry a genetic fingerprint and how to ascertain the biological impact of its fallout. 25-year-old man taking photos dies from fall near Colorado River, unrelated human remains also found. The study suggests that South Africa has few major natural dust sources and it appears that the dust is largely caused by the human response to drought conditions. The dust traveled 5,000 miles … Riding trade winds westward from Africa to North America, the dust drifts across the Atlantic Ocean, reaching as … Our recent study involving more than 300,000 satellite snapshots, covering South Africa over an 11-year period, pointed to persistent dust emissions in the western Free State province. After a quick and active start to hurricane season, it looks like any significant tropical development is unlikely over the next week. They have also been used to identify atmospheric dust emissions. Frank Eckardt receives funding from the NRF. Saharan dust from North African basins is even known to reach the Amazon and Caribbean, where it has a fertilising impact on the rain forest but is detrimental to coral. The department reported a decline in maize cover and a pronounced increase in fallow land for periods in our 11-year image record when most dust was being emitted. “A lot of it is suspended at mid- and high levels of the atmosphere.”. © 2020 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. African Dust Turns Skies Gray from the Gulf Coast to Florida Brian K. Sullivan 6/25/2020. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The finest dust particles can be inhaled and may even enter the lungs and bloodstream. A cloud of dust blowing through the Gulf of Mexico, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Soil is not a resource that can be renewed on human timescales. As researchers, our primary question has been the precise origin and cause of dust in drylands, since the source areas would tell us more about the composition and impact of the dust and how to control it. Fine dust also constitutes a loss, since sediments provide a useful service. The timing of rainfall can be erratic and delayed, especially during a drought, as was seen in 2015 and 2016. “The lack of moisture and increased winds are not conducive for tropical storm development.”. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. Closer to the source, the dust can also affect flora, fauna and soil, especially if the dust is salty. At a Glance. The sources and trajectory are typical of South Africa’s major dust events. As the sun passes the curve of the Earth, its rays shine through a thicker layer of atmosphere. Small fire smoke plumes can be seen further east. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. A dust storm in the Free State, South Africa. Saharan Dust Cloud Arrives At The U.S. Gulf Coast, Bringing Haze The phenomenon happens every year – but the 2020 version is especially large and imposing, experts say. A “historic” outbreak of Saharan dust that is clogging the atmosphere from western Africa to the Caribbean and potentially posing health threats could make it as far as the U.S. Midwest. With the added dust in the atmosphere, a greater number of particles can refract sunlight into a range of purples, pinks, oranges and yellows. The dust originating from this region reaches different parts of the world, including the Americas across the Atlantic Ocean. Another benefit of dust from the Sahara Desert: more vivid sunsets and sunrises. Soil loss is regarded as detrimental in the long run, with an impact on food security. AUSTIN, Texas – A cloud of dust blowing through the Gulf of Mexico may not sound like an encouraging forecast, but it might be just what we need to keep tropical storms at bay and enjoy some gorgeous sunsets. Copyright © 2010–2020, The Conversation US, Inc. A major dust plume from agricultural areas in the Free State. Dust and water particles in the atmosphere are responsible for scattering sunlight, creating the rich colors of sunsets and sunrises. The largest source of atmospheric dust, scientists of the study said, is the Sahara-Sahel region in North Africa. A dust storm in the Free State, South Africa. University of Cape Town provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. This mass of dust combines with warm, dry air to form the Saharan Air Layer. “For us and a lot of the other southern U.S. states where this dust is supposed to end up, it’s going to impact the air quality for a couple of days,” Treadway said. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict that the dust cloud reached the eastern edge of the Caribbean over the weekend and possibly make its way to the Texas Gulf Coast this week. The western Free State is primarily home to rain-fed maize agriculture and relies on summer rainfall.

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