Sahara dust clouds 'calm down' the Atlantic storms

Dust clouds significantly block the formation and intensification of tropical tornadoes, because they create an opposing atmosphere in the presence of hot and dry air.

Sahara dust clouds - the phenomenon of weather that occurs every year in the Caribbean in the summer and is considered to be the factor that makes tropical heat become more and more harsh, now it is thought by scientists. is the main factor that helps 'calm down' strong hurricanes often occurring in the first half of August in this area.

Some meteorologists even argue that the remarkable presence of Atlantic dust clouds also prevents the formation of tropical depressions.

A giant Sahara dust cloud.(Source: chron.com)

According to a reporter at La Habana, PhD physicist Eugenio Mojena López, advisor of the Center for Forecasting of the Cuban Hydrometeorological Institute and an experienced researcher on the subject, explains the dust clouds that have stopped Significantly inhibits the formation and intensification of tropical tornadoes , because they create an atmosphere in contrast to the presence of hot and dry air and relatively small relative humidity.

In addition, Dr. Mojena stressed that dust clouds increase the difference of the speed and direction of vertical wind in the upper layers of the atmosphere, which prevents any tropical phenomenon from forming. Accumulate energy needed to grow into a storm.

According to Cuban scientist, during the first July and two weeks of August, there appeared a large amount of Sahara dust in the Caribbean in the region between 10 and 20 degrees North latitude and from 20 to 60 degrees East longitude. - the largest area of ​​cyclone activity in tropical Atlantic (recent meteorological observations recently).

Meanwhile, until this time of the year, only two subtropical storms formed in May (before the official time of the hurricane season in the Caribbean region) and last July with relative intensity. weak.

Dust clouds are formed from sandstorms and dust masses of the Sahara desert in North Africa, which can reach heights of 3 to 7 km.

They moved to the West, crossing the Atlantic Ocean until they covered the Caribbean Sea, Southeastern America, Mexico and Central America. These clouds filled with fine dust particles PM10 and PM2.5 are considered toxic to humans.

Typically, these Sahara dust clouds often begin to 'visit' the Caribbean in March and April each year but become strong in June, July and part of August, creating hot, dry air masses. increases the average temperature, reduces rainfall and causes more lightning.