Saharan dust blankets Switzerland, skies turn cloudy and yellow

Switzerland finds itself under a peculiar phenomenon as an extraordinary volume of Saharan dust settles over the country. Meteorologist Roman Brogli from SRF Meteo reveals that Saturday witnessed an influx equivalent to a staggering 180,000 tonnes of dust, a revelation gleaned from forecast models. Brogli underscores the magnitude of this occurrence, noting it surpasses previous events which typically delivered only half as much dust. The surge in dust was propelled by a robust southerly current, ferrying particles from the Sahara desert in northern Africa to Swiss skies as early as Friday. The Sahara stands as the planet's primary source of mineral dust, emitting between 60 to 200 million tonnes annually. While larger particles precipitate swiftly, smaller ones embark on journeys spanning thousands of kilometres, traversing entire continents, including Europe. These Saharan dust events significantly contribute to aerosol pollution, particularly in the transitional seasons of ...