PARIS: Parts of Europe are currently being choked by an “exceptional” dust cloud originating from the Sahara Desert, according to the continent’s climate monitor, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, AFP reported.
The dust cloud, the third of its kind in recent weeks, is causing poor air quality and coating windows and cars in grime.
The latest plume, characterized by hazy conditions, has already affected southern Europe and is expected to move northward, reaching as far as Scandinavia. Mark Parrington, senior scientist at Copernicus, noted that while Saharan dust plumes reaching Europe are not uncommon, there has been an increase in their intensity and frequency in recent years, possibly due to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns.
As a result of the dust cloud, air quality has deteriorated in several countries, with concentrations of PM10 particles exceeding safe thresholds in some locations. The Iberian Peninsula in Spain has been particularly affected, but spikes in air pollution have also been observed in Switzerland, France, and Germany.
Authorities in southeastern and southern France have advised residents, especially those with heart or respiratory issues, to avoid intense physical activity due to the poor air quality.
The dust outbreak is expected to continue affecting Europe, reaching countries such as Sweden, Finland, and northwest Russia before dissipating on Tuesday with changes in weather patterns.
The Sahara Desert emits millions of tonnes of fine dust annually, which can travel thousands of kilometers driven by winds and specific meteorological conditions. In the Spanish Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, Saharan dust has been a persistent phenomenon, with only a few days of clear skies reported in recent months.
