Formed from winds blowing loose sand, dirt, and debris, Saharan dust travels across the Atlantic Ocean and large quantities can result in poor air quality and reduced visibility in Puerto Rico.
To help Puerto Rico prepare for Saharan dust, John Haynes, program manager of the Health and Air Quality program area, collaborated with Pablo Méndez-Lázaro, an associate professor at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan and NASA-funded principal investigator, to set up an air quality monitoring system. It provides up to three days of advance notice of a dust storm’s arrival.
Hear more about how the system is being used within CariCOOS, the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, to provide the latest conditions and help prepare for Saharan dust impacts.
