#Apocalypse, #Mars and #BreakingBad These are just some of the trending topics that left us on Monday, March 14. The reason? Another trending topic: the storm #Celia, formed in the southwest peninsular which has caused the rise of a considerable mass of Saharan dust and dyed the sky orange.
The intrusion of haze associated with the Celia storm has significantly affected the Mediterranean coast, leaving us shocking images in places like Murcia, Almeria and Alicante.
This is due to the fact that the dust in suspension enters from the southeast but, “With the passing of the hours, it will spread throughout the Peninsula” , comments from eltiempo.es to Condé Nast Traveler.
Cartagena, Region of Murcia.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THIS METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENON?
"The origin of this intrusion of dust from the Sahara is actually due to the position of the Celia storm, southwest of the Peninsula since this, with its cyclonic circulation, has caused it to rise from latitudes further south a mass of warm and very dry air that is accompanied by Saharan dust”, tells us Mar Gómez, Ph.D. in Physics and meteorologist from the time is
And she continues: “We already began to notice their presence yesterday, Monday, in the southeast of the peninsula, and today many other areas are being affected”.
THE AFFECTED AREAS
The peninsular southeast and the center of the country are the areas most affected by the calima: “ the Region of Murcia, the east of Andalusia, the south of the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha and the Community of Madrid they present a very adverse situation”, comments Mar Gómez.
Already during the early hours of Tuesday, March 15, some air quality control stations have reached concentrations of PM10 particles of more than 700μg/m3, as has been the case in Guadalajara, Madrid or Toledo. In Murcia even 1000μg/m3 have been reached.
Map of maximum temperatures for Wednesday, March 15.
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
“The limit values from which they are considered PM10 and PM2.5 harmful to health are 50 and 25, respectively. Therefore, this value is exceeded by more than 15 times in the case of PM10 in many areas”, warns the PhD in Physics and meteorologist from eltiempo.es
This means that during these days we will have a poor air quality in many areas of our country: “These powerful haze episodes can reach seriously affect health especially in people at risk. Besides the lack of visibility , they can generate eye irritation, cough and major conditions in people with respiratory problems” point out from eltiempo.es
During Wednesday, the concentration on the surface will remain, but it will increase considerably in height”, they report, so concentrations are expected that will cloud the sky in a very considerable way in practically the entire peninsula.
Without filters: Cartagena, Region of Murcia.
MUD SHOWERS
The haze intrusion will overlap with rainfall, especially in southern Spain, and will leave mud rains in many regions.
Thus, “rainfalls are expected during Tuesday more restricted in the south of Andalusia. Nevertheless, during Wednesday they will spread to more regions, which will cause the mud rains to become generalized”.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
"Few days. In this case until Thursday we will have the presence of dust in suspension. The days of Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th will be days where the irruption of dust can increase”, informs Mar Gómez to Condé Nast Traveler.
Starting Thursday, March 17, dust concentrations can be reduced considerably, however, “ some amount of suspended dust may still be present in the atmosphere residually during the following days” concludes Mar.
As pointed out by eltiempo.es, although it is true that “The haze episodes are beginning to be more and more frequent (being one of the leading phenomena of 2021), and that the footprint of the climate change after them it begins to be studied, many residents of the area commented that they had never seen prints as 'Martian' as those of these days".
Twitter, Instagram and our own eyes They are witnesses to it.