“This year is a year when the phenomenon has an increased frequency compared to the past. The paradox, however, is that this year it started very early, from March, while it is usually expected in April, where it reaches its peak,” explains the scientist characteristically.
He emphasizes, however, that it is a phenomenon that has always happened, is happening and will happen independently from the climate change. He points out, however, that the possibility of the climate crisis affecting this phenomenon and its frequency is still under consideration.
However, there are years that are more intense, like this year, there are also years that are less intense.
How does African dust “travel” in our country?
How does African dust reach Greece?
“It has to do with the atmospheric circulation, which at this time favors the movement of cyclonic systems, or otherwise Saharan recessions in the region of northern Africa and specifically from the region of Atlanta” answers Ms. Floka.
Saharan depressions have a trajectory, a direction, that is, towards the Western or Eastern Mediterranean during the winter season, which reaches its maximum towards the spring season.
“These Saharan recessions are favored by the southerners and their trajectory can be either towards the Western Mediterranean, or towards our own region. The frequency of Saharan recessions is relatively high compared to other Saharan recessions, reaching a rate of 30%-40%.
When are mud showers expected?
The specific recessions, as the professor notes, are what bring the dust from the Sahara, which can create this suffocating atmosphere and depending on whether it rains, they bring the so-called mud rains.
“If there is no cyclonic system and only the southerly flow that just carries the dust we will have dry deposition, usually just the dust,” he adds.
“This year there is indeed a greater escalation and frequency. How much is something that can be measured after the current period has passed,” he emphasizes.
The professor of meteorology, Eleni Floka
Eleni Flokas
The comparison with 2023 – When the heat and dust are favored and when the rains and cold
It should be noted that, as Ms. Floka mentions, last year there were recessions that came mainly from the Western Mediterranean and brought a lot of rain and cold, with the result that in May, for example, there were rainfalls “that look more like autumn than spring”.
On the contrary, in 2023 in northern Europe they experienced a prolonged summer and very quickly, with very high temperatures and prolonged drought. Conditions, that is, reminiscent of this year’s April in our country.
Explaining, he notes that “this often has to do with some blocking systems, systems, that is, in which an anticyclone stays over an area for a long time, as a result of which we have no rain and drought and over an area there remains a low barometric, of prolonged duration which brings rains”.
The frequency of recessions affecting the Eastern Mediterranean
Speaking about the frequency of recessions that pass through the Eastern Mediterranean, which affect countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Italy and the Balkans in general, the academic informs that “on an annual basis approximately 13% are created in the Atlas region and 14% are closer to the coast of North Africa.”
“Based on this data, about 27% of the recessions that affect us originate there.” These are actually the chances of recessions in our region.
The evolution of the phenomenon from April 21 to 25
The evolution of the phenomenon
WEATHER
