Giant plume of dust from Africa expected to bring stunning sunsets—and breathing risks—to the gulf coast, expert warns

A massive plume of sand and dust has crossed the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to hit Florida and other Gulf Coast states by midweek.

Sheila Puffer, a Northeastern University international business professor who studies the sand industry, says the plume is "more of a meteorological event than a geological one" that happens on an annual basis.

The plume originated some 5,000 miles away in the Saharan desert of Africa days before, Puffer explains, to form what is called the Saharan air layer.

"Huge dust plumes form in the Sahara desert every year when strong winds sweep up fine particles of sand from hollows and send them miles high into the atmosphere," she says. "This 'Saharan air layer' makes its way to the Caribbean and even Florida, where its haze can create beautiful sunsets but also cause nasty respiratory issues."

Indeed, with the increased amount of dust particles in the air, the sky often turns a red and orange hue due to the scattering of sunlight, making sunsets more vivid and picturesque, explain scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

People with preexisting conditions such as asthma and cardiovascular diseases are among the susceptible to negative health effects, according to the American Meteorological Society.

At its largest state, the plume was roughly the size of the continental United States, but is expected to be much smaller once it reaches Florida and other states bordering the Gulf Coast this week, reports the New York Times. It is expected to last into the weekend before dying out.

The plume comes just at the start of hurricane season, which runs from the start of June to the end of November. That could actually be welcome news since plumes help suppress the formation of hurricanes, according to NOAA.

"From an ecological standpoint, the iron and phosphorus content [in the plume] nourishes plants on land and phytoplankton in water," Puffer adds.

Provided by Northeastern University