Various cities in Italy, from North to South, have found themselves dealing with a yellow sky, sometimes tending towards a pale orange. According to popular wisdom, the yellow sky is associated with misfortunes or calamities such as earthquakes. But in reality there is no need to bother the superstition: the sky colored yellow due to the Sahara sand it’s a atmospheric phenomenon which has very specific natural causes. And the climate change plays a role in its increasing frequency.
Because the sky is yellow
The wind lifts the Sahara sand and the currents of the African anticyclone push it north, towards Italy. Particles of sand and desert dust mix with the air and this affects the refraction of sunlightwhich appears to pass through a yellow or orange lens.
This, in short, is the explanation of the yellow sky that has affected various areas of Italy since mid-June: from Sicily to the Laziofrom the Tuscany toUmbria.
Archive image, on March 27, 2024, the citizens of Nice in the South of France woke up under a yellow sky.
What health risks
Saharan dust may pose a risk to the Health in some subjects: those who suffer from asthmaOf bronchitis or other respiratory diseases may see your condition worsen. The risk is also represented by the fact that the dust could carry with it microorganisms And heavy metals.
Damage to cars
Most of the time the Saharan dust that settles on car It doesn’t cause any big problems. But in case of temperatures particularly highthe bodywork may have a series of uneven stains.
To restore a bodywork damaged by Sahara dust you need between 300 and 500 euros. “If not removed correctly, dust can lead to scratches on paint, glass, windshield wipers and handles,” explains the president of Federcarrozzieri Davide Galli.
How long will the yellow sky last
The peak of the phenomenon was recorded on June 20th. From the June 21st the situation will begin to diminish, and then progressively normalizes in the following days. The phenomenon, as mentioned, is related to the African anticyclone which also brought with it a bubble of heat.
The role of climate change
The yellow sky has always appeared, occasionally, in Italy and in much of Europe. What has changed in recent years is frequency of the phenomenon.
The newspaper The nation consulted the LaMMa Consortium (Laboratory for environmental monitoring and modeling). Experts point out that “there is no doubt that global climate changes are altering traditional meteorological patterns, favoring a more south-north oriented atmospheric circulation.”
Photo source: ANSA
