

VIRTUAL MEETING |The ‘Godzilla’ Saharan Dust Plume of June 2020
LOCATION
Virtual Meeting
Webinar
SPEAKER| Dr Claire Ryder, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading
ABSTRACT| During June 2020 a massive plume of Saharan dust was transported across the Atlantic to the Americas, thought to be the largest event of its kind for 50 years. Although dust is normally transported westwards from Africa during summertime in a warm, dry elevated layer known as the Saharan Air Layer, the ‘Godzilla’ June 2020 dust plume was unusually dense and widespread, resulting in many all-time dust records being broken. Impacts of the dust on air quality on Caribbean nations and several US states was severe. In this talk I will describe the characteristics of this record-breaking event, causes of the unusual dust loadings, and impacts on health and air quality.
This will be a 30min talk followed by a 10min Q&A. Meeting will open 6.50pm onwards for attendees to join. Event will start promptly at 7pm.
For anyone who was not able to join us, or who may want to watch back the recording, you can now view the presentation on our YouTube channel below.
Photo: © NASA’s Earth Observatory, A Dust Plume to Remember
SPEAKER| Dr Claire Ryder, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading
ABSTRACT| During June 2020 a massive plume of Saharan dust was transported across the Atlantic to the Americas, thought to be the largest event of its kind for 50 years. Although dust is normally transported westwards from Africa during summertime in a warm, dry elevated layer known as the Saharan Air Layer, the ‘Godzilla’ June 2020 dust plume was unusually dense and widespread, resulting in many all-time dust records being broken. Impacts of the dust on air quality on Caribbean nations and several US states was severe. In this talk I will describe the characteristics of this record-breaking event, causes of the unusual dust loadings, and impacts on health and air quality.
This will be a 30min talk followed by a 10min Q&A. Meeting will open 6.50pm onwards for attendees to join. Event will start promptly at 7pm.
For anyone who was not able to join us, or who may want to watch back the recording, you can now view the presentation on our YouTube channel below.
Photo: © NASA’s Earth Observatory, A Dust Plume to Remember