Saharan dust continues to sweep toward the Gulf coast
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A plume of Saharan dust is expected to arrive to the United States in the coming days.
You may notice haze in our atmosphere, with more vivid sunrises and sunsets.
What is Saharan dust?
Saharan dust is made up of particles of sand and other minerals from the Saharan Desert in Africa. Dust get swept into the atmosphere by strong winds aloft and can travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean, carried by trade winds.
Saharan dusts role in tropical systems
Saharan dust plays a huge role in tropical development!
The dusty, dry air can weaken tropical systems by stabilizing the atmosphere. Think about it like this, tropical systems need moisture to develop and strengthen. This dust reduces moisture, limiting storm growth.
Meteorologists track Saharan dust plumes during the Atlantic hurricane season, as the amount of dust can limit the overall number of named storms.
