2022-03-17: Saharan dust events


With a south-westerly high-altitude current, air enriched with Sahara dust was also brought to Switzerland. A considerable amount of Sahara dust has ensured that the Sun’s rays and visibility have been severely restricted in recent days.

The Sahara dust and its effects were also clearly noticeable on the Jungfraujoch, as the pictures below show.

Astronomical dome of the Sphinx Observatory during the current Sahara dust event

Astronomical dome of the Sphinx Observatory during the current Saharan dust event. Photo: Michael Schibig


 

View from Jungfraujoch Sphinx towards Aletsch glacier and Jungfrau on 2022-03-14 13:00 UTC. Photo: Webcam SWITCH

View from Jungfraujoch Sphinx towards Aletsch glacier and Jungfrau on 2022-03-17 13:00 UTC. Photo: Webcam SWITCH

Filters of HiVol air sampler at Jungfraujoch. Top left: new, unused filter, other filters: each after one day of exposure after 2022-03-14. Photo: Erich Furrer/Daniela Bissig

National Air Pollution Monitoring Network (NABEL)

Aerosol measurements by the Paul Scherrer Institute at Jungfraujoch