Giant Saharan dust intrusion over the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula in 2022

^a) Department of Physics, University of Evora, 7000-671 …vora, Portugal
^b) Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT) and Earth Remote Sensing Laboratory (EaRSLab), 7000-671 …vora, Portugal This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 9 April 2026

Abstract

Starting on March 15^th, 2022, the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Central Europe, were affected by the transport of Saharan desert dust originating from North Africa. Despite being a relatively frequent phenomenon at this time of year, this intrusion was the most intense since there are records in the European network EARLINET for this site. The transport of particles from the Sahara Desert was monitored at the Evora Atmospheric Sciences Observatory (EVASO) at the Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT), at the University of Évora.

The plume was transported at low altitude, being detected at the surface, in Évora, on the morning of March 15^th, 2022, persisting over the city until late morning of March 17^th. The air quality index during this period was classified as poor, indicating the most serious level of pollution. The effect of these particles was visible to the naked eye, manifesting in the color and opacity given to the sky, deposition on surfaces, “mud rain” and notably vibrant sunrises and sunsets.