Sahara Desert dust travels across the Atlantic Ocean to weaken or prevent hurricanes.

The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) is a mass of very dry, dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert during late spring, summer, and early fall. This layer typically extends between 5,000 and 20,000 feet in the atmosphere. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the SAL is characterized by heat, extreme dryness, and strong winds of 25 to 55 mph.When this layer moves over the Atlantic, it suppresses tropical cyclone activity in three distinct ways. First, the dry air creates downdrafts that weaken the storm's internal structure. Second, the 'African Easterly Jet' within the SAL increases vertical wind shear, which can tilt or even rip apart a developing storm's vortex. Third, the warmth of the SAL creates a temperature inversion that acts as a lid, preventing the rising air needed for thunderstorms.NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites have tracked these massive dust plumes as they travel over 5,000 miles to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Research published in 'Nature' suggests that high-dust years often correlate with lower hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin. While the dust prevents storm formation, it also provides essential nutrients like phosphorus to the Amazon rainforest and Caribbean coral reefs. This complex meteorological phenomenon demonstrates how African weather patterns directly dictate the severity of the Atlantic hurricane season.