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Sahara Dust Hits The Amazon With Five Times Greater Intensity. Nutrient-Rich Particles Can Affect Soil And Climate Of The Forest.
The journey of the particles begins in the Sahara Desert, Africa, and travels over 5,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean until it reaches the forest. This transport is driven by winds from the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and usually lasts from one to two weeks. Mineral dust, rich in nutrients, can directly influence the fertility of the Amazonian soil, which is traditionally poor in phosphorus and potassium.
Dust Concentration Five Times Above Normal
During the events recorded in 2025, the average concentration of Sahara dust in the Amazon atmosphere reached between 15 and 20 μg/m³, while the expected value for the period would be only 4 μg/m³.
The three episodes occurred between January 13 and 18, January 31 and February 3, and again between February 26 and March 3.
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The data was collected by sensors from the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO), a 325-meter tall tower equipped to monitor the forest 24 hours a day.
In a statement, Rafael Valiati, a PhD student at the Physics Institute of USP and one of the individuals responsible for monitoring, revealed that “the intensity of these episodes is quite variable in the Amazon, as it depends on the amount of dust released into the atmosphere in the Sahara, the wind speed during transport, and, mainly, precipitation, as rain removes particles from the atmosphere.”
How Sahara Dust Can Affect The Amazon?
Although it may seem like a strange phenomenon to the forest, Sahara dust plays an important role in the dynamics of the Amazon.
The mineral composition of the transported material contains phosphorus and potassium, essential elements for the natural fertilization of Amazonian soil, which is naturally nutrient-poor.
Carlos Alberto Quesada, coordinator of ATTO on the Brazilian side, claims that the positive impact can be felt in the long term.
“What is already known is that the potassium and phosphorus from mineral dust contribute, in the long term, to maintaining soil fertility, which is generally very poor,” he explained.
Although the beneficial effects are known, researchers now want to understand the real impact of such high volumes of Sahara dust on the health of the forest.
The sudden increase of particles in the atmosphere can also have effects on air quality and the sunlight that reaches the ground.
Therefore, ATTO continues to monitor the arrival of these particles and how they interact with the atmosphere, soil, and cycles of the Amazon rainforest.
The initiative is partnered with Brazilian and international researchers.
Amazon And Sahara: Two Extremes Connected By The Wind
The link between two of the largest biomes on the planet — the Sahara Desert and the Amazon rainforest — demonstrates how the Earth’s climate is deeply interconnected.
This phenomenon of dust transport, although natural, has been increasingly studied in light of global climate changes.
With advances in science and real-time monitoring, it will be possible to better understand how these connections affect the environment and even the production of food and the quality of life of nearby populations.
With information from Olhar Digital.
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