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The sun rises behind a plume of Saharan dust in Austin on Monday.\u00a0 Air quality is expected to reach the \u201cunhealthy for sensitive groups\u201d category across South and Southeast Texas on Monday, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.<\/p>\n
Jay Janner\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a weather riddle: What annual Texas visitor can make asthma sufferers miserable<\/a> while also helping produce gorgeous sunsets? The answer: Saharan dust.<\/p>\n Like clockwork, from June through August, high winds over northwest Africa pick up substantial amounts of desert dust from the Sahara and carry it westward more than 5,000 miles, through the Caribbean Sea, and eventually onto the Texas Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Saharan dust becomes a mass of dry, dusty air containing mineral dust from the Sahara \u2014 the largest hot desert in the world, covering more than 3 million square miles. Winds reaching up to 35 mph lift an estimated 100 million tons of dust into the atmosphere each year.<\/p>\n The dust is then carried across the Atlantic Ocean, reaching various parts of the world, depending on the prevailing wind patterns.<\/p>\n Hurricane-busting dust<\/p>\n During the summer months, meteorologists closely track the flow of dust in the Saharan Air Layer<\/a>, because it can influence the development of\u00a0tropical cyclones.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Hurricanes and other tropical cyclones require a combination of warm ocean waters, a system of low air pressure, moist air that cools as it rises, and light winds in the upper atmosphere. When a plume of Saharan dust moves across the Atlantic, those favorable conditions can be disrupted.<\/p>\n According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a>, the Saharan Air Layer is a layer of warm, dry air with strong winds, which can suppress hurricane formation and weaken existing storms. The dry, stable air limits the rising motion needed for clouds and thunderstorms to develop.<\/p>\n When the\u00a0SAL\u00a0reaches the United States, it often creates a more stable atmosphere that reduces cloud cover. NOAA also notes that some locations can experience their hottest days of the summer when Saharan dust is overhead, as increased sunshine and fewer storms allow temperatures to climb.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Health concerns<\/p>\n This dust also can have a significantly affect your health and overall air quality.\u00a0<\/p>\n This dust can worsen respiratory health and overall air quality. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, these dust particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in size<\/a>, which means these exceptionally fine particles can be inhaled deeply into your lungs and aggravate respiratory problems.<\/p>\n The sun rises behind a plume of Saharan dust in Austin on Monday.\u00a0 Air quality is expected to reach the \u201cunhealthy for sensitive groups\u201d category across South and Southeast Texas on Monday, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.<\/p>\n Jay Janner\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n Numerous scientific studies have linked particulate pollution exposure to a variety of problems including:<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Aggravated asthma In general, it\u2019s important that people with asthma and other chronic lung problems take precautions to reduce exposure by limiting their time outdoor during dust events.<\/p>\n Benefits of the dust<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nDecreased lung function
\nIncreased respiratory symptoms
\nPremature death in people with heart or lung disease<\/p>\n