Sahara dust levels rise across Europe

Researchers using artificial intelligence tracked Saharan dust particles over Europe between 2012 and 2021 and found a marked increase in their concentration. While emissions from traffic and industry fell during the same period, desert‑origin fine particles grew especially over southern Europe – Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans and Greece – and are now detectable in northern regions as well.

The study, published in *Nature*, links the rise to the gradual expansion of the Sahara desert driven by natural climate cycles and accelerated by global warming. Health experts warn that higher dust loads can aggravate respiratory conditions. A notable visual example occurred on 16 October 2017 when former storm Ophelia carried large dust quantities over the British Isles, giving the sky a sepia hue.

The findings suggest that Saharan dust may become a persistent air‑quality issue for much of Europe, prompting calls for monitoring and mitigation strategies.