The Sahara goes to Southampton
Scientists on a scientific expedition across the Atlantic have discovered how Saharan dust storms reach as far as Southampton in England, the UK.
Apparently, this annual ocean crossing of Saharan dust doesn't really happen every year. When it does, like this year, the effect on marine life and global warming is quite profound.
The dust contains many chemicals -nitrogen, phosphorous and iron - that stimulate the growth of micro-organisms in the North Atlantic - especially the planktons. These organisms, in turn, use up the built up carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere to propagate the food chain right up to the fishes and other human food.
The ocean may call the dust storm food but West Africans call it the cold and dusty Harmatan Season.



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