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A study reveals that the concentration of desert dust has increased by 10% to 25% in Europe over the last decade
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The research, featuring participation from IDAEA-CSIC, proposes coordinating early warnings and reducing anthropogenic emissions on days with the highest concentrations
Saharan dust episodes affect 40% of days in the Canary Islands. | Xavier Querol
A study published today in Nature and led by the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland), in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), reveals that whilst atmospheric particulate matter from transport, industry, and households is decreasing in Europe thanks to current regulations, desert dust is following the opposite trend. By combining data from more than 100 stations over the last decade, the study reveals that the amount of desert dust in the European atmosphere has increased by 10% to 25%, with an average concentration of 5.3 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre) in Southern Europe and, on specific days, more than double that in the centre and north of the continent.
“In Spain, we experience African dust episodes for approximately one-third of the year and, in a significant proportion of cases, the daily limit value for the protection of human health for suspended particulate matter can be exceeded,” says Xavier Querol, a researcher at IDAEA and one of the study’s authors.
According to the researchers, the main cause is an alteration in atmospheric circulation, which draws African air masses towards Europe. Furthermore, the increased dryness detected in parts of North Africa has led to a rise in dust emissions. “Our current understanding suggests that the increase in desert dust is facilitated by human greenhouse gas emissions and the associated global warming. This causes drier conditions in certain regions and the expansion of deserts”, says Kaspar Dällenbach, a researcher at PSI and the study’s lead author.
Spain: highly exposed to Saharan dust
Although the study observes a continental-wide trend, the Iberian Peninsula and the archipelagos experience this phenomenon with particular intensity.
“Generally, the trade winds transport African dust towards the Caribbean, affecting the Canary Islands. However, specific meteorological conditions, such as an anticyclone over North Africa or low pressure over Cape St. Vincent (Portugal), drag this airflow directly towards the Peninsula,” Querol explains.
According to IDAEA-CSIC data, the frequency of these episodes is highest in the Canary Islands, affecting 40% of days in the year. In the south of the Peninsula, it affects 35% of days, and in the northeast, around 25% to 30%. “We are talking about episodes that can be extremely acute”, warns Querol. “The European Directive suggests not exceeding 50 µg/m³ daily of particles smaller than 10 micrometres (PM10). However, during severe episodes, we have recorded up to 3,000 µg/m³ of PM10 in Almería, and more than 1,000 µg/m³ in central Iberia”.
Particulate measurement station in Morocco, installed for the monitoring of Saharan dust. | Xavier Querol
The impact of dust on air quality
Due to the increased presence of Saharan dust particles in Europe, there is growing concern that these episodes are offsetting some of the progress made by reducing human-induced particulate emissions. “Furthermore, these dust particles do not travel alone; they can also carry pollutants from industrial plants in North Africa, where emission limits are much more permissive than in Europe”, Querol notes.
A study published in 2008 by IDAEA-CSIC, together with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), had already warned of an increase in mortality during days with African dust episodes compared to other days. Although these are natural emissions, they impact health, and their increase is linked to anthropogenic climate change.
The authors indicate that the best strategy would be to establish warning systems for high concentrations across Europe, similar to those used for urban pollution episodes, so that particularly sensitive individuals or those with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions can take precautions during haze (calima) episodes.
Anticipating the recommendations of this paper, IDAEA-CSIC, with support from CIEMAT, has operated an early warning system in Spain since 2001 under an agreement with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. This system sends forecasts 24 hours in advance to more than 250 recipients, including air quality networks, hospitals, and allergy societies, allowing the most vulnerable groups to take preventive measures ahead of the arrival of Saharan dust.
Finally, the IDAEA researcher highlights that another measure would be to reduce local anthropogenic emissions on days with high African dust to compensate for the atmospheric particulate matter and limit the health issues associated with this phenomenon. The alerts sent by the IDAEA and CIEMAT system could be utilised for this purpose.
Petros N. Vasilakos, Abhishek Upadhyay, Manousos I. Manousakas, et al. Rising dust pollution across Europe in a changing climate. Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10743-w
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