The Sahara Desert Swamps Cornwall With Sand And Pollution

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“A coincidence of climatic and meteorological influences has led to Saharan sand being transported across Africa, the Mediterranean and mainland Europe and then being deposited on Cornwall.”

Experts say a sandstorm over Algeria last week saw sand launched high into the atmosphere.

The Sahara is one of the largest deserts in the world – almost as big as China or the United States – and is often battered by strong winds.

With the wind currently arriving here from the south/south-east, the conditions were in place to carry that sand over Cornwall.

And then the light persistent rain of yesterday brought it down to earth.

When that rain dried it left the sand as a visible residue on cars across Cornwall.”

“Very high levels of air pollution over the next few days are prompting health concerns for vulnerable and elderly people, as the dust from the Saharan desert and winds combined to create a potentially ‘toxic’ storm.”

“High air pollution levels can cause unpleasant and dangerous effects on health, both long and short term.

Toxic gases, such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone, as well as fine dust particles in the air blown in from the Sahara and from burning fossil fuels, all contribute to cause problems for people with heart, lung and breathing problems, such as asthma.

The problem is likely to be particularly bad today [Wednesday] because weather conditions have conspired to create a ‘perfect storm’ for air pollution.”