Irish holidaymakers face ‘bloody sky’ phenomenon as Saharan dust cloud hits Mediterranean beaches
Irish holidaymakers abroad could face the ‘bloody sky’ phenomenon as they hit the beaches of Spain and Portugal this week, with the latest cloud of Saharan dust sweeping across the continent.
A large deposition of airborne sand from the Sahara Desert is expected to reach Western Europe by the end of the week, the latest in “an extraordinary year for the dust cloud cycle”, according to the service. EU Copernicus climate monitoring system.
At the moment, Ireland is not in the sights of the cloud, but the south-east of England should be affected, as well as large parts of France, Spain and Portugal.
At worst, Irish holidaymakers in affected areas can expect red skies, cars and buildings, and caution is advised on outdoor activities due to affected air quality.
The European Commission-backed Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), part of the EU space programme, said it had “observed another large plume of Saharan dust moving westward across the ‘Atlantic between 12 and 17 May and heading towards the Caribbean’.
It now predicts that “the plume will also reach Western Europe on May 21 and 22.”
Although it may seem negligible to the untrained eye, dust clouds can impact air quality and contribute to climate change.
CAMS said: “Hazy skies, warm sunsets, dirty cars and poor air quality are some of the most visible signs of dust transport episodes.”
The latest sand plume is expected to reach the Iberian Peninsula first, before dispersing over the rest of the west, CAMS said.
Met Éireann explained the dust cloud phenomenon in March when confused Irish motorists asked how their cars had become dirtier overnight.
Dust clouds are wind dependent, according to CAMS.
“In general, dust events tend to be seasonal, following changes in wind conditions.
“Wind patterns will also determine the size of the particle loft or how high the dust cloud will travel.”
CAMS has documented the impact of dust clouds in recent years, showing how seriously they need to be taken by local and regional authorities.
“In February 2020, a huge cloud of dust engulfed the Canary Islands, causing flight cancellations and travel chaos for thousands of locals and tourists,” CAMS said.
In February 2021, the snow on the Alps turned orange, while March this year saw record dust concentrations in southern Spain, with the plume heading as far as Scandinavia.
According to CAMS, the impact on human health depends on the type of dust transported.
“It depends on concentration and altitude. Dust transport at high altitudes is less likely to have a significant impact on surface air quality.
“But large dust clouds at surface level bring particles, coarse and fine, worsening air quality and posing respiratory or even cardiovascular risks,” he said.
