Coronavirus-stricken U.S. faces another problem: A massive dust cloud from Africa
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The plume of Saharan dust is drifting over the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to waft over parts of the Southeastern U.S.
A massive plume of dust from the Sahara Desert is drifting across the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to blanket parts of the Southeastern United States this week.
The enormous dust cloud — which some experts say could be the biggest and most intense Saharan plume in 50 years — could aggravate health problems, including asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and make visibility difficult on the ground.
"Dust particles are what we call particulate matter, and we know that breathing in fine particles of anything is not good for the respiratory tract — especially people who are sensitive to poor air quality," said Thomas Gill, a professor of geological sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso.
The added dust pollution may be particularly problematic in light of the coronavirus pandemic, because COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, is a respiratory illness.
"There is some emerging information that people who live in places with higher levels of air pollution may be at higher risk" of COVID-19, said Gregory Wellenius, a professor of environmental health at the Boston University School of Public Health. "There may be potential interactions between air pollution and COVID symptoms or progression, but it's still pretty early data."
Still, the potential health impacts of the dusty air could put more pressure on the country's overburdened health care system, Wellenius said.
"Things like the wildfire season, hurricane season and extreme weather events, including this dust storm, may be magnified this year because resources are already stretched thin," Wellenius said. "Just because we're in a pandemic world doesn't mean that other hazards that we tend to worry about aren't happening."
Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings. Sign Up
We flew over this Saharan dust plume today in the west central Atlantic. Amazing how large an area it covers! pic.twitter.com/JVGyo8LAXI — Col. Doug Hurley (@Astro_Doug) June 21, 2020
Part of the dusty veil has already reached the Caribbean Sea, and thick haze was reported Monday over Puerto Rico, Antigua and other islands in the region, according to The Associated Press.
Forecasts project that the dust cloud — which stretches thousands of miles — could swirl into the Gulf of Mexico and waft over Texas, Louisiana and elsewhere in the Southeast in the coming days.
It's not unusual for dust plumes that originate in Africa to drift thousands of miles across the ocean, but Gill said this event is especially large and intense. Astronaut Doug Hurley, who is aboard the International Space Station, snapped a dramatic photo Sunday showing the immensity of the plume over the west-central Atlantic Ocean.
"A dust cloud has to be incredibly large and very thick to be that evident from the space station," Gill said. "This one literally sticks out like a sore thumb — or maybe like a dirty thumb."
These types of dust clouds occur every year when a mass of very dry air, known as the Saharan Air Layer, forms over the Sahara Desert. The plumes form when "ripples in the lower to middle atmosphere, called tropical waves, track along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and loft vast amounts of dust into the atmosphere," Jason Dunion, an associate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division, said in a statement.
Dr. Anthony Fauci warns about 'disturbing surge' in coronavirus cases
June 24, 202002:33
Dusty outbreaks in the Sahara typically peak from late June to mid-August, but Dunion said this week's event is "impressive for its size and the amount of dry, dusty air that it contains."
When dust clouds waft across the ocean, they are carried by the same trade winds that blow west off the coast of Africa, and they can churn up tropical storms and hurricanes, Gill said.
"It's all part of the same global circulation of the atmosphere," he said.
Sahara Air Layer activity coincides with the early part of the Atlantic hurricane season, but the dusty outbreaks typically suppress the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes, which need moisture to develop and thrive.
"That's the silver lining with these dust clouds," Gill said. "It has to do with the dryness of the air mass, because you need very, very moist air to create things like tropical storms or hurricanes."
Gill warned that as the dust drifts over cities and towns, the hazy conditions could trigger air pollution alerts, and he urged people to heed public health advisories.
"It's important to pay attention to any alerts or warnings from air quality agencies," he said, "especially for people directly in the path of the dust cloud."
Denise Chow
Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on the environment and space.
Tags
Who is online
93 visitors
What's next for the US..... Plague of locust?
That already happened in Africa and the Middle East. How about the rivers turning to blood. Could all this be a sign to Trump to let his people go?
It is going to be another reason to wear a mask and goggles.
I've said before and I say it again - better do this....
So that's where the idea of spray-can art on the side of buildings got it's start.... BTW....The guy looks like a hippy from Woodstock! This wouldn't by any chance be a self portrait from back in the day now would it?
Happy Thursday Buzz!
LOL. I never got to Woodstock. I was packed, had a car-full ready to go but the rain prediction scared us off.
Do you think I could get some lamb's blood from Amazon?
Try a Kosher slaughterhouse - they drain the blood from the animals in order to kill them, and they discard the blood.
Well Jesus (PBUH) was a hippy! He looked like a hippy, dressed like a hippy, and what he preached was pure Socialism!
and what he preached was pure Socialism!
A fact lost on modern day evangelicals and every Trump Supporter that claims to be a Christian.....
Or
A sign Trump needs to stay another 4 years and Lead us "Out" of more Crap, like he did before ?
Just a thought !
Isn't this the year, every 17 I think, that cicadas return?
Yes, so nobody should go hungry.
Add some Tabasco and you've got lunch!
Cicada Recipes: Bugs Are Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Food
Blanched, boiled, or candied, cicadas are a healthy snack, experts say.
National Geographic !!!
ok
Come on TG.... you never ate you bait?
I never used insects for bait. I prefer red worms...they don't scream like crickets do
when i use crickets, all i ever hearis, crickets.
My son used to have a leopard gecko and I used to buy his crickets. On the way home, they chirped and chirped and I felt bad because I knew where they were going to end up
my buddy buys them as well, but how can sot a leopard gecko?
Ok...this time I didn't understand your last few words. Is there a typo in there?
yes, how can you SPOT, a leopard gecko, when they're all out selling insurance ?
LOL! This one didn't walk on his hind legs
I could have gone all day without seeing that picture.
AKA sushi.
If you're using minnows
But the only problem, at least for some folks,is that they are an animal product.
Afte r the success of "Beyond Meat" -- perhaps they will develop a "beyond Insect" product for vegetarians!
I'm referring more to the taste than the variety.
I was once offered one to taste, but I passed on it.
Sub-thread deleted for off topic. This is a science thread, not political.
Keeping America clean, one post at a time!
LOL. Delicacies weren't on topic either, but at least it's more palatable than present-day politics.
Perrie I think accepts derailments of humor. Kind of a comedic relief...
Perrie does consider fun derails healthy. I specifically don't post politics to give people a place to go and learn something and or have some fun.
I'm always good for taking a seed off-topic as long as everybody laughs
Damn! Going to have a lot of dusting to do...and I hate dusting!
That's why I have maid service
and an ancient evil mummy... Well it is 2020 and that's the kind of year it is!
Well, it will cause dark skies. Wasn't that one of the 10 plagues?
Darkness for three days: Ex. 10:21–29
Todays forecast calls for a 40% chance of sand by mid-afternoon......
It may also produce what is called brown rain.
I've seen it rain mud in Texas
I've blessed the rains down in Africa...................
Cursed the sand storms up in Africa by chance....?
Is the zombie horde next?
Misplaced my copy of the playbill but I thought that was slated for October...
No, no. That's the meteorites.
Only when Congress is in session.
the Saharan dust has made some spectacular sunrises and sunsets here in Arkansas and it has kept the humidity down.
It has been rather pleasant in the mornings.
Not here. Rained all yesterday and nothing but complete cloud cover today.
I wanted to see what the fuss was about, see what I could see but we will not get to.
Cloudy and rain next several days.
It looks like that orange cloud is coming right over Central Arkansas
I'm on the Oklahoma border near Ft.Smith
One of my nephews lives in Greenwood.