What a weird phenomenon, eh?
Expansive dust clouds arise from the sun-baked Sahara each year, making the 5,000-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the southern United States. While these dust plumes tend to stay intact while traveling across the ocean, they typically diffuse by the time they hit the Caribbean. But this year, things are different.
This month’s dust cloud is more resilient than usual—its dust is so opaque and thick that it can be clearly seen from the International Space Station, while its predecessors have been ghostly and faint from space.
An article from Popular Science presents 5 facts about the plume -- 3 of which I had not heard before.
The dust will aggravate pre-existing asthma, respiratory illnesses, and allergies
The plume suppresses hurricanes and tropical storms in their tracks
Particles from the plume make the skies more colorful
This phenomenon fertilizes the Amazon Rainforest
This dust cloud transformed the Bahamas into the glorious ecosystem it is today
Read further about those 5:
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt