Many areas in Europe are in a state of serious air pollution because of the dust from the Sahara desert ‘in season’ moving north. In many places, the sky is dyed orange.
“Orange sky” at a ski resort in Anzere, Switzerland – Photo: AP
The EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) said that the level of airborne dust particles smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10) began to increase alarmingly in many places such as Barcelona (Spain), Lyon, Marseille (France)… This thick layer of dust quickly spread to other areas of Europe such as Switzerland and Germany.
According to Sky News , CAMS has issued a warning that dust will continue to sweep across Europe this week. Air quality will also be severely affected.
Originating from the Sahara region, sand masses cross the Mediterranean, enter Southern Europe, Western Europe and can then be carried by wind up to Northern European countries such as Finland and Norway.
The sand turned the sky orange in many places, sometimes purple. Many people complained that they could not see the road to drive, play sports, or travel…
Sand-colored sky at Vallee de Chamonix, Haute Savoie (France) – Photo: SIPA
In early February, a dust cloud from the Sahara also crossed the ocean to cover many Western European countries. According to CAMS, the dust density in the air in these countries at that time was hundreds of times higher than normal.
The sand layer also carries hot air containing many bacteria, viruses… which can be harmful to respiratory health, especially dangerous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, PM10 particles can penetrate the lungs, causing difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and other health problems.
According to experts, this phenomenon occurs frequently around February, due to some fierce sandstorms forming in North Africa. The shift of air pressure has contributed to carrying the sand far north.
Not only that, dust can also cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean and North America, usually around May and June.
In 2020, many countries recorded photos of clear blue skies suddenly turning cloudy or brownish-yellow. At that time, dust covered half of the eastern territory of Cuba, while Costa Rica saw the air pollution index (AQI) reach 156, the highest in decades.
Some other images of the “orange sky” due to sand from the Sahara in February 2021:
Alpine resort in Switzerland – Photo: AP
Sky in Stuttgart (Germany) – Photo: AFP
The orange color of sand blends with the white color of snow at a tourist area in Switzerland – Photo: AP
View of Lyon (France) in the “sand sky” – Photo: SIPA
A construction site in Bramois, Switzerland – Photo: SIPA
