ORLANDO, Fl. – Strong winds across Africa and the Atlantic Basin will transport the dusty air, known as the Saharan Air Layer, towards the southeastern U.S.
The wave of Saharan dust is expected to arrive in Central Florida this upcoming weekend.
Observations from satellite imagery indicate that this dust layer ranges in altitude from 5,000 to 20,000 feet.
When the sun is low in the sky, its light travels farther through the atmosphere, scattering shorter wavelength colors such as blue, purple and green. This scattering allows longer wavelength colors like orange, pink and red to be more visible to people.
When dust or smoke is added to the atmosphere, it enhances this effect by scattering sunlight even more. These tiny particles not only block some sunlight but also scatter it widely.
This increased scattering results in more vivid colors such as reds, oranges, pinks, yellows, and sometimes purples, making sunrises and sunsets appear vibrant and beautiful.
Keep your cameras ready when Saharan dust is around, and share your stunning photos with us on PinIt!
Saharan dust contains various minerals, particularly silicates such as quartz and clay. The color of the dust is mainly due to the presence of iron oxides.
Saharan dust can also affect health depending on its concentration and where it settles. At higher altitudes, it’s less likely to impact air quality on the ground. However, when dust clouds reach lower levels, they bring fine and coarse particles that can worsen air quality.
This can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular risks. It’s important to monitor air quality alerts from local agencies during peaks of air pollution.
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