All posts tagged: dust

Greek island of Crete is cloaked by Saharan dust storm – turning its blue skies blood red | World News

Greek island of Crete is cloaked by Saharan dust storm – turning its blue skies blood red | World News

The island of Crete, known for its blue skies, is seeing red – thanks to a cloud of Saharan dust. A powerful storm has carried the dust from Africa, and the popular holiday destination has turned an apocalyptic shade of red ahead of the Easter break. Dramatic photographs showed the impact the dust was having on life on the Greek island. Image: A view of the port in Heraklion, Crete, which is cloaked by red dust from Africa. Pic: Reuters Image: A woman in the port city wearing a face mask. Pic: Reuters The island has also been battered by extreme weather – strong winds and heavy rainfall – carried by Storm Erminio. Residents have been wearing face masks to protect themselves from the suffocating dust. There have also been gale-force gusts on the island, and the rain, mixed with the dust, has created mud which has coated vehicles and buildings. Image: People are continuing to go about their everyday lives amid the haze. Pic: Reuters Image: Sculptures of dinosaurs in Heraklion stand among the …

An expert explains how to protect your lungs from hayfever, dust and damp

An expert explains how to protect your lungs from hayfever, dust and damp

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore As spring unfolds, bringing with it clear blue skies and blooming flowers, many are enjoying the seasonal shift. However, for a significant number, this period signals a heightened concern for their respiratory health. Karen Spillett, deputy head of health advice at the charity Asthma + Lung UK, has explained how this time of year can profoundly impact lung function. This is particularly so for those with existing conditions such as asthma, and has provided useful practical tips for managing these symptoms. Pollen can trigger your lungs in spring (PA/Alamy) What can trigger your lungs in spring? Pollen “Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen and if you have a lung condition your airways tend to be quite sensitive anyway and something like pollen can make them more sensitive,” says Spillett. “This can lead to symptoms such as wheezing a little …

UK air haze and cars covered in dust this March finally explained by experts | Weather | News

UK air haze and cars covered in dust this March finally explained by experts | Weather | News

Saharan dust is covering cars in parts of England this week (Image: Getty) After weeks of sunshine, much of the UK has suddenly been swallowed up by clouds, while drivers are seeing a fine layer of dust and grime plastered across their cars. As well as forecasts for possible snow and ice hitting parts of the UK this week, people in England, particularly in the north of England, have noticed another weather related problem affecting them. People in Lancashire as well as those over the border in Yorkshire have spotted poor air quality where they live, with high pollution levels, hazy skies full of dust and even layers of brown grime and dust settling on their cars. According to climate experts, the reason is due to Saharan dust from Africa being carried on the wind to the UK. Posting on Reddit community r/Lancashire, member u/GlennSWFC said this morning: “Does anyone know what’s causing the air pollution in Lancashire today? “I opened up my weather app this morning and it showed the air quality map where …

Rust, dust and superyachts as America’s Cup lands in Naples

Rust, dust and superyachts as America’s Cup lands in Naples

BAGNOLI, Italy, March 21 : Rusted factory skeletons loom over a shoreline poisoned by decades of heavy industry on the western fringes of Naples, which will next year host sailing’s glamorous America’s Cup. Dredgers are deepening the seabed in readiness for the racing yachts, excavators are tearing up an old pier and crews are preparing the ground for what is meant to be a temporary harbour for the high-tech, carbon-fibre boats. The sailing extravaganza, awarded to Italy last year, has generated a broader battle over whether it will finally help clean up the Bagnoli littoral, or simply bury its toxic past. Politicians say the regatta is a desperately needed catalyst for reclaiming one of Italy’s most polluted waterfronts, which used to house a smoke-spewing steel mill, cement factory and asbestos plant.  “I see the America’s Cup as a chance to speed up the environmental cleanup that was already planned, particularly offshore, where work wasn’t supposed to start until 2031,” said Enza Amato, the centre-left head of Naples City Council. “For me, the most important thing …

NASA shows how Sahara desert dust spread all over Europe

NASA shows how Sahara desert dust spread all over Europe

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. The wild winds of winter typically bring snow in the Northern Hemisphere. But sometimes, they carry dust. Earlier this month, winds brought clouds of dust from the Sahara Desert north towards the Mediterranean Sea and across Europe. When it mixed with various weather systems, dusty rain fell in parts of the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. A new animation from NASA shows the highest concentration of dust and its movement throughout the region from March 1 to March 9. The graphic shows dust column mass density, which is a measure of the amount of dust contained in a column of air. It was made with a version of the Goddard Earth Observing System (GOES) model. GOES integrates satellite data with mathematical equations to show physical processes in the atmosphere as they happen. Dust Outbreak Reaches Europe The animation depicts the dust plumes from their origin point in northwestern Africa. The plumes are blown west across the Atlantic Ocean and …

Tracking a Saharan dust plume across Europe

Tracking a Saharan dust plume across Europe

Mark Parrington, Senior Scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), explains how a Saharan dust plume from a powerful storm is being carried across southern Europe and what it means for air quality, visibility, and atmospheric monitoring. Large plumes of Saharan dust regularly travel thousands of kilometres from North Africa into Europe, shaping skies, air quality, and atmospheric conditions far from their source. These events are closely monitored by scientists, as mineral dust is one of the most abundant types of airborne particles in the atmosphere and can influence everything from visibility and public health to weather patterns and climate processes. CAMS, operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), provides detailed forecasts and monitoring of atmospheric composition, including desert dust. By combining satellite observations with advanced atmospheric modelling, CAMS tracks how dust is lifted from the Sahara and transported across continents, helping authorities and researchers understand where and when impacts may occur. As a new Saharan dust plume develops and moves towards Europe, CAMS scientists are analysing its scale, trajectory, and potential …