Saharan Dust plume arrives over Ireland
A plume of Saharan dust has moved northward and will persist in the atmosphere over Ireland until the weekend.
The dust will create vibrant, colourful sunsets, while sunlight may appear hazy intermittently.
Strong winds over the Sahara have lifted dust and sand into the upper atmosphere, where northerly winds have transported it toward Ireland.
A EUMETSAT satellite image captured on Monday, April 7, showed the dust plume as translucent yet sufficiently dense to be visible across the western half of Ireland.
The dust concentration in the atmosphere is expected to rise as the week progresses.
Forecast showers or rain on Sunday, April 13, will clear the dust from the sky.
As raindrops fall and later evaporate, they will deposit a layer of dust on surfaces, often noticeable as a film on cars.
Saharan dust plumes occur relatively frequently in Ireland and. in rare instances, can lead to a decline in air quality.
The Saharan Air Layer is a well-mixed, dry layer of air that often overlies the cooler, more humid surface air of the Atlantic Ocean, and it can also suppress tropical cyclone development.
Saharan dust also contains minerals that can act as a natural fertilizer for plant and ocean life.
