The sky turned orange over parts of Spain, including in Madrid. Residents were also asked not to leave their homes in the affected areas because a warning has been issued from the authorities about severe air pollution.
As quoted by us from Euro News, Friday (18/3/2022) the national air quality index in Spain is at the worst rating in the capital Madrid and some other regions. This and the orange sky phenomenon is caused by dust from the Sahara Desert.
Many local residents encountered reddish-colored dust that had accumulated in homes, streets and vehicles. The sky turned orange and visibility was limited. If forced to leave the house, it is recommended to wear a mask because of the danger of respiratory illness.
Saharan dust reaches parts of Spain and other European countries every year, when hot winds carry it. Even in 2020, dust from the Sahara is reaching North and South America.
At that time, the Saharan dust carried was estimated at 24 tons and astronauts on the International Space Station were able to photograph it from space.
The research institute Climatology Laboratory at the University of Alicante said that currently, the air quality in Spain is worse than India and China, countries known for their pollution.
But on the other hand, in addition to orange skies and pollution, the massive dust from the Sahara also has benefits. For example, it carries minerals that are useful for plants as well as life in the oceans.
This hot air mass from Africa will also trigger rain, where Spain has recently been hit by a severe drought. In the last 3 months of 2021, Spain recorded only 35% of the usual rain and no more rain after that.