Amaris en de Kleurrijke Vissen

Part 2: Track Sahara Dust and Air Quality – Tools and Resources

Introduction

In Part 1 of this article, we explored how Saharan dust affects storms, air quality, forests, and oceans. Now, let’s look at some reliable tools you can use to track Sahara dust in real time, and check air quality conditions in your area. These tools are helpful for researchers, bloggers, travelers, and families who want to stay informed and safe.

1. Real-Time Sahara Dust Tracking Tools

• Saharan Air Layer Tracking – University of Wisconsin
  This live map shows where the Saharan Air Layer is moving over the Atlantic and nearby regions. You can view daily animations and satellite images.
• Tropical Tidbits – Dust & Weather Models
  Offers weather models and analysis including dust forecasts. Great for tracking both dust and storm development side by side.
• Earth.nullschool.net – Global Air Movements
  An interactive globe where you can view wind patterns, aerosols (including dust), and ocean temperatures. Select “PM10” or “Aerosol Optical Depth” for dust levels.

2. Check Air Quality in Your Area

• IQAir – World Air Quality Index
  See the real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) in your city or country. You can also track major dust events and health alerts.
• AirNow – U.S. Government Air Quality Monitoring
  Check live air quality in the U.S. with health recommendations. They also issue alerts for dust, smoke, and pollution events.

3. Satellite Dust and Weather Layers

• WeatherNerds – Hurricane & Dust Analysis
  This tool combines hurricane model tracks with Saharan dust overlays to help predict interactions.
• WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Center
  Part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), this global project provides expert forecasts for dust outbreaks worldwide.

4. Use Mobile Apps

• Plume Labs – Air Report (Android / iOS)
  Gives live air quality alerts based on your location and alerts you to incoming dust or pollution spikes.
• Windy (Website and App)
  Offers beautiful, animated weather maps including wind, dust, and storm activity. It’s easy to zoom in on affected areas.

Conclusion and Opinion

We now have powerful, easy-to-use tools that allow anyone to track Sahara dust and protect themselves. Whether you're a parent checking air safety for your kids, a traveler avoiding bad conditions, or a blogger covering nature and weather — these tools help you see what’s really happening.

My take: Using real-time data helps fight misinformation. People often make bold claims about storms or air quality, but these tools let you see the truth yourself. They're especially helpful during hurricane season when Sahara dust can hide in the background but still play a big role.

If you'd like, I can help you embed one of these tools or maps directly into your blog for your readers to interact with!