Saharan dust storms occur when winds lift massive quantities of fine mineral dust from the Sahara Desert, carrying them thousands of miles across the Atlantic.

These events are most common between late spring and early fall and regularly impact the Americas, including Texas, Gulf Coast states, Florida, the Caribbean, and occasionally as far north as the eastern US.

Recent events, such as the 2020 "Godzilla" dust cloud, demonstrate that these phenomena can be large-scale and intense, and climate change is expected to increase both their frequency and magnitude in the future .

Impact on Air Quality and Temperatures:
During Saharan dust incursions, the main air quality concern is the dramatic increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can easily reach and exceed air quality regulatory thresholds.

These fine particles exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, triggering asthma attacks, allergies, and other health issues among susceptible populations, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic lung or heart conditions.

There is also evidence that Saharan dust can transport bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which may introduce or exacerbate infectious disease risks .

Alongside health impacts, Saharan dust has specific meteorological effects.

The dust particles reflect and scatter incoming solar radiation, causing local cooling at ground level and reducing maximum daily temperatures.

At the same time, the dry Saharan air mass suppresses cloud formation and precipitation, potentially contributing to drier local conditions and stressing water resources and agriculture if coinciding with ongoing heat or drought .

Impacts on City Systems:

Power Grid: Saharan dust can lower the performance of solar panels due to dust accumulation, reducing the efficiency of photovoltaic electricity generation.

Additionally, dust buildup on electrical infrastructure can contribute to equipment wear or failures if not properly managed .

Traffic and Transportation: Reduced visibility from airborne dust leads to hazardous driving conditions and necessitates careful management of both road and air traffic.

In areas experiencing significant dust concentrations, traffic slowdowns and accidents become more likely, and flight operations at airports may be impacted .

Health: Public health effects are among the most pronounced impacts during Saharan dust events.

In addition to acute respiratory distress, long-term exposure to dust-laden air can worsen cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases.

Health systems may experience increased patient load for respiratory complaints during these periods .

Ecosystem and Indirect Effects: The dust acts as a fertilizer due to its high content of minerals such as iron and phosphorus, supporting oceanic phytoplankton growth and contributing nutrients to ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest.

This can benefit fisheries and terrestrial environments, but excessive deposition may also stress sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs or alter local soil chemistry .

Geographic Reach and Historical Data:

The most affected areas in the Americas from historical Saharan dust events include the southern US (especially Texas and its major cities such as San Antonio and Houston), Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean.

Strongest impacts occur in summer months, typically aligning with the start of hurricane season.

In fact, high dust activity tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity due to dry air introduced into the storm-formation region .

Positive and Negative Impacts:

Negative Impacts:
Saharan dust increases particulate pollution, yielding poor air quality and enhanced health risks for vulnerable populations.

It can worsen allergic reactions and asthma, reduce visibility and disrupt transportation, and over time, can contribute to erosion or equipment degradation.

It introduces agricultural pests and pathogens, risking both human and crop health, and may disrupt energy production where solar resources are important .

Positive Impacts:
Minerals in Saharan dust supply essential nutrients across the Atlantic, sustaining ocean productivity and fertilizing terrestrial ecosystems.

The dust layer also suppresses hurricane and storm formation, providing a temporary reduction in weather-related risks during the tropical cyclone season .

Municipal Preparations and Mitigation Strategies:

To prepare for Saharan dust events, municipalities—especially those like San Antonio with a history of seasonal dust episodes—should adopt a layered emergency management approach:

1.

Monitor and Alert: Increase the use of air quality monitoring systems.

Issue public health advisories when PM2.5 and PM10 reach hazardous levels, with targeted messaging for at-risk groups (children, elderly, those with chronic disease) .

2. Reduce Population Exposure: Advise citizens to limit outdoor activity during high dust periods, close windows, and use air conditioning/filtration indoors.

Provide guidelines for use of N95 masks for sensitive populations.

3. Healthcare Surge Readiness: Prepare local healthcare facilities for increased respiratory patient loads.

Ensure pharmacies and clinics have adequate supplies for asthma and allergy management.

Infrastructure and Traffic: Implement visibility-driven mitigation on major traffic corridors, such as reduced speed limits or staggered work shifts.

Coordinate with airports regarding potential flight delays due to low visibility.

Schedule additional cleaning of critical city and transportation infrastructure .

Power Grid and Solar Energy: Conduct inspection and cleaning of air-handling and power generation equipment, especially solar panels and substations, as dust buildup impairs performance and risks equipment failures.

6. Public Communication: Educate citizens before the dust season about symptoms and preventive strategies, emphasizing care for vulnerable groups, and distributing real-time updates during dust episodes.

7. Environmental Stability: Invest in vegetation and soil management projects to stabilize urban/rural open spaces, reducing the risk of re-entrainment of settled dust and supporting local ecosystem health .

In summary, for San Antonio and similar cities, Saharan dust storms pose a significant recurrent hazard, particularly to sensitive individuals and city systems exposed to poor air quality and reduced visibility.

Timely monitoring, coordinated health and infrastructure preparedness, and clear public communication are key to minimizing the adverse impacts of these natural events while maximizing the benefit of forewarning and historical lessons from similar events across the Americas.

Continued vigilance will be required as climate-driven changes may intensify dust events in coming years .

Saharan dust storms occur when winds lift massive quantities of fine mineral dust from the Sahara Desert, carrying them thousands of miles across the Atlantic.

Title:

Content: Dust storms from the Sahara desert spread invisible allergens around the world
Science and Technology
Copy Link https: / / en.rt.com / x903
Many blame pollen when the allergy season begins, but there are “invisible travelers ” coming from the Sahara and Sahel region, who may be the cause of this allergy.
The huge dust plumes, which originate thousands of miles away in sub-Saharan Africa, travel by dust storms around the world every summer, carrying a mix of pollutants and potential pathogens across continents.
Dr. Shankar Chilam, a professor at Texas A & M University, led the task of understanding the biological movers within dust storms.
He and his team are working to identify microbes, specifically bacteria and fungi, that migrate with dust and explore their potential impact on human health.
Dr. Chillam ’ s research uniquely addresses how desert dust storms introduced these microbes into North America.
Dr Chillam and his team analysed samples of desert dust that arrived in Houston in 2018, measuring minerals, bacteria and fungi to check for any links.
Surprisingly, their findings revealed strong links between microbial biodiversity and specific elements, especially calcium.
While these elements occur naturally in the Sahara Desert, they are also found in local North American environments.
Identifying the exact source and payload of the dust remains a challenge that scientists continue to face.
Perhaps the most surprising discovery is that even seemingly lifeless dust clouds are full of biological activity.
High-tech DNA analysis allowed the team to create a reservoir of bacteria and fungi, even if the microbes themselves were not active.
Surprisingly, they found traces of several pathogens known to cause disease in humans, according to the World Health Organization.
Dr Daniel Spalink, an assistant professor at Texas A & M University, warns: “This doesn ’ t tell us whether they will be able to infect us and make us sick, but at least the DNA of many pathogenic bacteria and fungi has been identified in African dust. ”
Climate change is changing weather patterns globally.
This shift affects the behavior of dust storms, leading to differences in their frequency and severity.
The dust storm in the Sahara travels far beyond the borders of North America, affecting global ecosystems in profound ways.
The dust, which originates from the vast Sahara desert, is released on transcontinental journeys that affect climate, ocean biology and ecosystems far from its source.
As it travels across oceans and continents, desert dust reflects sunlight back into space, cooling the Earth ’ s surface.
This natural phenomenon acts as a counterbalance to the greenhouse effects of greenhouse gases, illustrating how desert dust can affect global temperatures.
Dust also carries microorganisms and nutrients, such as phosphorus, which fertilises remote ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to the Caribbean Sea, demonstrating complex nutrient cycles in nature.
Ocean biology also benefits from nutrient-rich dust.
When desert dust settles on ocean waters, it provides essential minerals that stimulate the growth of phytoplankton that form the basis of the oceanic food chain and support a variety of marine life.
Thus, the flow of food from the Sahara could boost marine productivity, affecting fish populations and the global fishing industry.
But the effect of desert dust is not always beneficial, and in ecosystems unusual for the flow of foreign particles and nutrients, the dust can disrupt local environments.For example, excessive dust deposition can strangle corals, block sunlight and hinder photosynthesis.
Moreover, the health effects of desert dust extend across continents, where dust not only carries nutrients but also contaminants and pathogens that can affect air quality and public health.
Communities in the path of these dust plumes may face increased respiratory problems, allergies and diseases, highlighting the need for surveillance and global health preparedness.
Source: earth.com
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These events are most common between late spring and early fall and regularly impact the Americas, including Texas, Gulf Coast states, Florida, the Caribbean, and occasionally as far north as the eastern US.

Title:

Content: Dust storms.
sources and danger.
|
At the beginning of this year's spring season, the incidence of dust storms increased significantly.
Their frequency varies from year to year, but generally increases in the transitional periods between seasons, especially spring and autumn, for many reasons, some natural and others of a human nature, that is, by man.
Dust storms are fast winds that transport dust and plankton, causing a lack of visibility at short distances.
Despite the great controversy over the causes of dust or dust storms and the fact that the camel bears full responsibility for their occurrence, as stated in one of the videos circulated on social media, the reasons are not limited to the poor camel alone, even if it is one of the reasons!
The causes of dust storms are many, including: (1) Desertification as a result of drought resulting from low rainfall.
(2) Desertification due to human activities associated with overgrazing as a result of increasing numbers of camels and sheep on pasture capacity.
(3) Extensive agricultural activities, especially ploughing the land and leaving it exposed for long periods.
(4) Soil movement as a result of development and military actions and absurd car tracks in deserts that led to the breaking and dismantling of the soil and the destruction of vegetation cover.
(5) The reduction of the surface groundwater table, which led to the drying of the soil and thus the impact on the vegetation cover.
Globally, sub-Saharan Africa is the main contributor to Earth ’ s dust storms, which travel to the Americas via the Atlantic Ocean via tropical east winds.
But the Fertile Crescent has also become a source of dust, due to the halving of agricultural production as a result of climate change.
Iraq is one of the sources of dust storms as a result of the decline of the level of rivers, which led to the drought of the marshes and lakes in Iraq and Iran, and add to the list of sources open deserts of the Kingdom, which suffer environmental degradation as a result of human tampering of unfair grazing and wood and the like.
Dust storms are one of the factors responsible for increased allergic reactions, asthma attacks and chronic breathing problems, as well as blood vessels and heart disease.
Dust storms are also carriers of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, germs and viruses that cause certain diseases.
Besides, dust storms have economic effects, they adversely affect agricultural production by transporting agricultural pests, reducing photosynthetic activity, destroying crops, as well as affecting infrastructure, by reducing visibility, disrupting energy and air and road transport systems, burying railways, as well as contributing to the deterioration of the performance of solar panels, as well as damaging residential property.
There is no doubt that dust storms and their increased frequency are a warning sign that requires a rapid response through a review of environmental regulations, the need to raise the environmental awareness of the population, the organization of grazing seasons based on the identification of the pastoral capacity of each region, as well as innovative solutions to mitigate desertification that benefit from tremendous technical progress.
Finally, it follows from the above that the problem is not country-specific, but a regional problem that requires concerted efforts.
The Green Middle East initiative by Prince Mohammed bin Salman is designed to design innovative solutions to address climate change and promote environmental sustainability through a number of projects, including: planting 50 billion trees across the Middle East region and reclaiming 200 million hectares of degraded land through afforestation, which contributes to a 2.5 per cent reduction in global carbon emissions.
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What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

Recent events, such as the 2020 "Godzilla" dust cloud, demonstrate that these phenomena can be large-scale and intense, and climate change is expected to increase both their frequency and magnitude in the future .

Title:

Content: 03-27-2024

Sahara desert dust storms carry harmful bacteria and fungi around the globe

We often dismiss springtime allergies as reactions to local pollen. Yet, something else might cause our sniffles and sneezes: a massive dust storms that originate thousands of miles away in Africa’s Sahara region.

These gargantuan dust plumes travel the globe every summer, carrying a cocktail of pollutants and potential pathogens across continents.

Dr. Shankar Chellam, a Texas A&M University professor is leading the charge to understand the biological hitchhikers within dust storms.

He and his team are working to determine what microbes, specifically bacteria and fungi, migrate with the dust and explore their potential impact on human health.

Hidden passengers in Sahara dust

“We all get allergies and potentially other more severe health effects when we breathe in dust, and it’s not fully known as to what causes those allergies,” said Dr. Chellam.

“Some people may think it is just the sand or clay minerals in the dust. Others think it is the metals or organics in the dust, and then some think it’s the bacteria and fungi.”

The Saharan dust cloud carries vast amounts of sand particles that transport bacteria and fungi.

Dr. Chellam’s research uniquely addresses how Saharan dust storms introduce these microbes into North America.

What the dust storm from Sahara tells us

Dr. Chellam and his team analyzed samples from a Saharan dust event that reached Houston in 2018. They measured metals, bacteria, and fungi to investigate any connections.

Fascinatingly, their findings revealed strong links between the biodiversity of the microbes and specific elements, especially calcium.

While these elements occur naturally in the Sahara, they also exist in our local environments. Pinpointing the exact origin of the dust and its cargo remains a challenge that scientists continue to tackle.

Our air – Not as empty as we think

Perhaps the most startling discovery is that even seemingly lifeless clouds of dust brim with biological activity.

“A key takeaway from this study is that a lot of biodiversity is not scientifically described. It doesn’t have a name, it can’t be cultured, and because it can’t be cultured, it’s difficult to study,” explained Dr. Daniel Spalink, assistant professor at Texas A&M.

The team’s high-tech DNA analysis allowed them to create an inventory of bacteria and fungi, even if the microbes themselves weren’t active.

Surprisingly, they found traces of several pathogens known to cause disease in humans, as listed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“It doesn’t tell us if they are going to be able to infect us and make us sick,” Spalink cautions, “But at least the DNA of several pathogenic bacteria and fungi were identified in the African dust.”

Impact of climate change on Sahara dust

Climate change is altering weather patterns globally. This transformation affects dust storm behavior, leading to variations in their frequency and intensity.

In 2020, the United States experienced the most massive Saharan dust storm ever recorded, which experts named “Godzilla.”

This event highlighted the potential for increasing occurrences of such dust invasions. “The whole dynamics of the Saharan dust coming to Houston is primarily driven by atmospheric processes,” said Dr. Sourav Das, a former student of Dr. Chellam.

Global connection of Sahara dust

Sahara dust storm travels far beyond the borders of North America, affecting global environmental systems in profound ways.

This dust, originating from the vast Sahara Desert, embarks on transcontinental journeys that influence climate, ocean biology, and ecosystems far removed from its source.

The Saharan dust plays a critical role in climate regulation. As it travels across oceans and continents, it reflects sunlight back into space, cooling the Earth’s surface.

This natural phenomenon acts as a counterbalance to the warming effects of greenhouse gases, showcasing how desert dust can influence global temperatures.

However, the dust also carries microorganisms and nutrients, such as phosphorus, that fertilize remote ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to the Caribbean Sea, demonstrating nature’s complex nutrient cycles.

Benefits to oceans

Ocean biology benefits from the nutrient-rich dust as well. When Saharan dust settles on ocean waters, it delivers essential minerals that stimulate the growth of phytoplankton.

These microscopic plants form the foundation of the oceanic food chain, supporting a diverse array of marine life.

The influx of nutrients from the Sahara can thus boost marine productivity, affecting fish populations and the global fishing industry.

Disadvantages

The impact of Saharan dust is not universally beneficial. In ecosystems unaccustomed to the influx of foreign particles and nutrients, the dust can disrupt local environments.

For example, excessive dust deposition can smother coral reefs, blocking sunlight and hindering photosynthesis. This can stress coral ecosystems, leading to bleaching events and loss of biodiversity.

Moreover, the health implications of Saharan dust extend across continents. The dust carries not only nutrients but also pollutants and pathogens that can affect air quality and public health.

Communities in the path of these dust plumes may experience increased respiratory issues, allergies, and diseases, highlighting the need for global health monitoring and preparedness.

Study insights

It’s crucial to gather data across multiple dust events, spanning many years, to get a clearer picture of these airborne microbial communities and how they might transform over time.

While a lot remains unknown, research like this shines a spotlight on the hidden travelers swirling in the air we breathe — travelers who might be affecting our health in surprising ways.

The next time you catch a glimpse of a dust storm rolling in, remember the globe-trotting microbes it carries!

The findings of the study are published in Environmental Science & Technology.

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Impact on Air Quality and Temperatures:
During Saharan dust incursions, the main air quality concern is the dramatic increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can easily reach and exceed air quality regulatory thresholds.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

These fine particles exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, triggering asthma attacks, allergies, and other health issues among susceptible populations, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic lung or heart conditions.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

cardiovascular diseases
allergies
respiratory issues

There is also evidence that Saharan dust can transport bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which may introduce or exacerbate infectious disease risks .

Alongside health impacts, Saharan dust has specific meteorological effects.

The dust particles reflect and scatter incoming solar radiation, causing local cooling at ground level and reducing maximum daily temperatures.

What are the positive effects of Saharan dust on the environment?

reflects sunlight back into space
cools the Earth's atmosphere

At the same time, the dry Saharan air mass suppresses cloud formation and precipitation, potentially contributing to drier local conditions and stressing water resources and agriculture if coinciding with ongoing heat or drought .

Title:

Content: Hurricane Killer? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust

Dust from Africa moves across the Atlantic every year from late spring to early fall

It’s a common visitor in the summer months: dust from the Saharan Desert. Hazy skies and occasional allergies are common issues caused by the dust. But did you know that this layer of dust is more interesting than it appears? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Millions of tons of dust are transported across the Atlantic every year
  • Nutrient-rich Saharan dust plays a crucial role in the global ecosystem
  • Dust suppresses hurricane development

WHOLE LOTTA DUST!

Every year, from late spring to early fall, trade winds transport 180 million tons of dust from the Saharan Desert across the Atlantic Ocean. Impressively, that’s as much as 4.5 million 18-wheelers full of dust!

NATURE’S BEST FRIEND

Saharan dust is often rich in nutrients like iron and phosphorus. As the dust settles over the ocean, it fertilizes algae and plankton, allowing them to grow and flourish in an otherwise barren environment. These organisms are vital sources of food for ocean life.

Similarly, as the dust settles over land, areas like the Amazon rainforest benefit from the extra nutrients.

HURRICANE EXTINGUISHER

The African dust that moves across the Atlantic Ocean is also called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). The SAL occurs in waves at the same time as Atlantic hurricane season, from June through November.

It’s known that the SAL limits hurricane development and strength. This is because tropical storms like hurricanes need deep, rich moisture from the surface to the top of the atmosphere to survive. Since the air carrying Saharan dust is usually dry, it can prevent storms from forming and suppress existing storms from growing and strengthening.

DUST’S IMPACT ON TEXAS

While a dense plume of dust sometimes causes minor allergy-like symptoms for some, the most noticeable impact is on Texas skies. A haze often forms on the horizon, giving an ordinarily clear, blue sky a milky hue during the day.

At sunrise and sunset, the horizon can appear brilliantly orange because, with dust in the air, sunlight has more particles to bounce off.

About the Author

Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017. Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News. When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.

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How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

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Impacts on City Systems:

Power Grid: Saharan dust can lower the performance of solar panels due to dust accumulation, reducing the efficiency of photovoltaic electricity generation.

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

Additionally, dust buildup on electrical infrastructure can contribute to equipment wear or failures if not properly managed .

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

Traffic and Transportation: Reduced visibility from airborne dust leads to hazardous driving conditions and necessitates careful management of both road and air traffic.

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

In areas experiencing significant dust concentrations, traffic slowdowns and accidents become more likely, and flight operations at airports may be impacted .

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

Health: Public health effects are among the most pronounced impacts during Saharan dust events.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

In addition to acute respiratory distress, long-term exposure to dust-laden air can worsen cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases.

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

cardiovascular diseases
respiratory issues

Health systems may experience increased patient load for respiratory complaints during these periods .

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

Ecosystem and Indirect Effects: The dust acts as a fertilizer due to its high content of minerals such as iron and phosphorus, supporting oceanic phytoplankton growth and contributing nutrients to ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest.

What are the positive effects of Saharan dust on the environment?

carries microorganisms and nutrients that act as fertilizer

delivers essential minerals for phytoplankton

This can benefit fisheries and terrestrial environments, but excessive deposition may also stress sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs or alter local soil chemistry .

What are the positive effects of Saharan dust on the environment?

Geographic Reach and Historical Data:

Title:

Content: For a few months each year, the Desert Southwest transforms into a storm photographer’s paradise. Nourishing rains pour from the sky in daily deluges. Hulking thunderheads tap the desert heat to soar higher than jetliners fly. Bolts of electricity light up the sky as bursts of wind descend to the ground, kicking up vast clouds of dust.

It’s a raucous meteorological symphony that’s dazzled and drenched this summer. Known as the Southwest monsoon, it largely failed to materialize last summer. Perhaps making up for lost time, it’s cranking this year.

Strictly speaking, a monsoon is a seasonal wind shift, but when it arrives, it’s like flipping a switch. The ordinarily arid desert landscape quickly becomes a minefield of thunderstorms, with an abrupt influx of humidity arriving as the jet stream retreats north. High pressure to the east and southeast also aids moisture inflow to the region, as a tropical air mass gets shoved in from the south.

Last year’s monsoon barely showed up and only after considerable delay, but the fierceness of the storms didn’t make up for their tardiness.

On July 25, 2020, a rain shower in Phoenix ended a 103-day dry streak. Several tornadoes even touched down in the Desert Southwest, whirling ominously in an area accustomed to tumbleweeds and dust devils.

This year’s storms have been a seemingly relentless cacophony of meteorological ferocity and chaos, interspersed by more delicate, visually compelling moments. As meteorologists worked to keep abreast of the unstable conditions, photographers seized the opportunity to snap stunning shots.

“I love the lightning, which really piqued my interest,” said Mike Olbinski, a well-known storm chaser and photographer who lives in Phoenix and follows the atmosphere’s most spectacular storms.

Olbinski continued: “As for my favorite thing to shoot, I love a dust storm … it’s so dynamic. Lightning also is, if you can get it anywhere, with our landscape, cactus, mountains … it’s kind of special.”

Behind the monsoon

During most of the year, upper-level winds over the Desert Southwest blow from west to east. That keeps the area dry and sunny, starved of the moisture needed to generate storms. Once the strong upper-atmospheric winds relax and high pressure builds over the central United States, though, a more southerly flow can sneak in at the surface, bringing a humidity increase.

That added moisture actually cools temperatures back several degrees from the peak, which often comes before the monsoon begins, but it’s still blisteringly hot. It also allows for pop-up storms to appear about the area.

“We use a seasonal definition across the Southwest,” said Paul Iñiguez, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix. “It’s part of a much larger pattern across a chunk of the Southwest and Mexico [between about] June 15 and September 30.”

These dates encapsulate the entire monsoonal feature that drives storminess over the Western United States. Specific dates vary from one local region to another. The monsoon ordinarily kicks in at the start of July in Phoenix, for example.

“You kind of get ebbs and flows of moisture as these air masses are kind of moving around,” Iñiguez said. “You’ve got a more humid air mass coming up and out of Mexico, with repeated thunderstorms, repeated convection.”

To feast from famine: How this summer cancels out last year’s ‘nonsoon’

Last year featured a slow start to the season for much of greater Phoenix, a city that sees roughly three inches of rain annually during monsoon season. That may not sound like much, but the city of 1.7 million averages only eight inches a year. That means monsoon season makes up nearly 40 percent of the city’s yearly rainfall.

“On average, first week of July, with a lot of spread, is when we get those first rains,” Iñiguez said during a 2020 interview.

Last summer, Phoenix didn’t pick up any measurable rainfall until July 24. The delayed monsoon probably played a role in the city achieving its hottest July and summer on record. Last year’s average July temperature was a whopping 98.9 degrees; this July, riddled with clouds, was about five degrees cooler.

Both July and August 2021 have featured double the average amount of rain that falls in the city, a stark reversal from last year, during which hardly an inch fell between the two months.

Despite how heavily the rains come down, much of it evades collection.

“It’s not a big contributor to water resources,” Iñiguez said. “A lot of it gets recycled or goes into evapotranspiration. A little farther south and east into Arizona, in the far southeastern part of the state, 70 percent of their annual rainfall comes down this time of year.”

Ken Drozd, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Tucson, concurred.

“We like to get the winter rains and mountain snows, because [they] will actually soak in more,” Drozd said. “A lot of [monsoon rainfall] runs off, though some of it will certainly soak in and replenish [groundwater.]”

It’s not uncommon for rainfall rates in the core of monsoonal thunderstorms to exceed three inches per hour, overwhelming soil’s ability to absorb water.

“I’ve even seen 10-inch-per-hour rain rates,” Iñiguez said. “In the summer, we get into our more unique hazards … the topography, steep terrain, [lack of] topsoil, hydrophobic surfaces, [and] runoff” can occasionally yield debris flows after the wildfire season, Iñiguez said.

In fact, it’s the monsoon that usually brings about the end to wildfire season in the first place. Phoenix, for instance, sees its temperatures decrease slightly in midsummer as humidity ticks upward and sporadic rains arrive. July is the city’s wettest month, in stark contrast to June, which is often bone dry in Phoenix, averaging just 0.02 inches of rainfall for the entire month.

A rapid ‘greenup’ of the landscape

To show the effect the recent welcome rains have had, the National Weather Service in Phoenix posted a comparison map juxtaposing last year’s parched landscape against the verdure that’s blossomed this summer.

The maps show the relative “greenness,” or health, of the vegetation using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from data collected by NASA’s Terra satellite. NDVI maps offer the ability to contrast last year’s laggard monsoon against this year’s hyperactive one, and the results are night and day from a vegetation standpoint.

More than just rain

It’s not just heavy, localized rain and lightning that accompanies the monsoon. Dry air near the surface allows pockets of rain-cooled air to accelerate out of storms toward the ground, fanning outward ahead of the rain. Microbursts, both wet and dry, are a frequent byproduct of thunderstorms.

Sometimes, the exhaust-like outflow from thunderstorms kicks up enough dust to generate a large dust storm — technically known as a haboob. Oddly enough, much of the dust doesn’t stem from the fact that it’s a desert landscape. It actually has to do with land use that loosens the top soil, allowing it to fly free in strong winds.

“A lot of the dust we’re seeing comes from farms between Phoenix and Tucson,” Iñiguez explained. “There’s a lot of disturbed land, [it’s been] sitting there for quite a while, and can be a really big source for dust generation.”

Haboobs, particularly those paired with vibrant sunsets that bathe the stormy skies in delicate hues of Technicolor, are among the most breathtaking sights in the Desert Southwest. Olbinski says the July 5, 2011, dust storm that swallowed downtown Phoenix has been the highlight of his storm chases in the Southwest.

“It was this apocalyptic end-of-the-world scene,” Olbinski recalled. “Visibility down to probably three feet, the sun was already down. … I could see city lights and [the] freeway below me, little light on the parking garage, all glowing in the dust. But that was it. Then pitch dark … nighttime.”

The cool air that exits thunderstorms can propagate for miles, sometimes colliding with other gust fronts and generating new storms, seemingly at random. That makes forecasting during the monsoon quite difficult.

“It’s interesting to monitor day-to-day how the atmosphere will respond,” Drozd said.

Severe weather hazards

Because the upper-atmospheric winds are relaxed during monsoon season in the Southwest, it’s tough to produce rotating thunderstorms. But on July 24, 2020, one tornado did snake its way down from roiling thunderheads near Kingman, Ariz., surprising drivers on Interstate 40.

Two other “landspout” tornadoes spun up elsewhere in the state beneath other storms. Landspouts can form under any kind of convective cloud and are typically not related to storm-level rotation, but rather stretching vorticity nearer unstable air toward the ground.

This year has been quieter from a tornado standpoint across the region, but wind and hail have still battered parts of the Southwest.

Electrifying sunsets

Perhaps the most spectacular staple of the Southwest monsoon? Lightning. Sure, it’s technically the same as lightning anywhere else, but there is one key factor that makes it magnificent: incredibly high cloud bases.

Because the Desert Southwest even at its moistest is still comparatively dry, clouds form much higher up — especially during the start of the monsoon season. It’s not uncommon for the base of thunderstorms to be more than a mile above the ground.

“Many times if you’re in the valley, you can have cloud bases 7,000 to 10,000 feet above valley floors, typically earlier in the monsoon,” Drozd said. “[Thunderstorms] can have a pretty high cloud base, you can see them from a ways away, and you can get some pretty clear shots. Plus we receive a tremendous amount of lightning during that two- to three-month period.”

Approximately 1.2 million cloud-to-ground strikes occurred between June and September last year in western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, a record minimum; the previous lowest total was about 1.9 million strikes for a monsoon season. Records date back only to the mid-1990s, but the data highlights a significant anomaly.

This year, strikes are way up in places like Arizona but still close to the pre-2020 average. We’ll have to await the final tally, although we’ll probably see similarities across the region as this monsoon wraps up over the next few weeks.

The most affected areas in the Americas from historical Saharan dust events include the southern US (especially Texas and its major cities such as San Antonio and Houston), Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean.

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

Strongest impacts occur in summer months, typically aligning with the start of hurricane season.

Title:

Content: Saharan dust reaches stunning levels in Atlantic. Here's what that means for hurricane season

Significant Saharan dust plumes are common in the Atlantic during the start of hurricane season. If levels of SAL maintain a steadiness after about Aug. 20, then there would be significant ramifications to both the amount of cyclones and their overall strength.

First, Europe that was socked in by record levels of dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa. The Atlantic appears to have now taken the lead, with dust levels not seen in years across parts of the basin.

Satellite measurements indicate intensive plumes of dust, called the Saharan Air Layer, across much of the eastern Atlantic. Traces of dust have even made the more than 4,000-mile journey to Florida and the Gulf Coast.

Sunrises and sunsets have been enhanced across the Sunshine State as the particles scatter typical colors, allowing hues of orange, yellow and red to dominate the sky.

Aside from the vibrant colors, something not falling from the sky is precipitation.

According to NOAA, the air surrounding the SAL has about 50% less moisture than the typical atmosphere. This means the presence of the SAL can be detrimental to cloud formation and thunderstorm activity.

Significant plumes of dust and dry air are common during the first months of the hurricane season and usually persist through mid-August.

A LOOK AT A PHENOMENON THAT COULD DERAIL AN ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON

How Saharan dust impacts hurricane season

NOAA estimates that more than 180 million tons of dust leave the African continent every year, reducing thunderstorm activity and tropical cyclone formation.

Dry air and Saharan dust are perennial wild cards in tropical weather outlooks, as meteorology has yet to develop sufficient methods to forecast plumes weeks and months in advance.

Years with significant dust often experience reduced cyclone activity. Seasons with minimal dust typically rank at the top echelons of activity, thanks to increased moisture availability for tropical systems and warmer water temperatures.

The current season is a bit unusual as water temperatures started on the warm side across much of the basin, negating any minor effects from a dust storm.

Warm waters and limited exposure to dry air helped with the formations of AlbertoBeryl and Chris during late June and early July.

Since Beryl’s historic trek through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico, the basin has been relatively quiet, a likely product of the increase in dry air.

The trend for limited activity in the Atlantic basin is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, meaning that the next cyclone formation may be weeks away.

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAHARAN DUST PLUME

During an average year, the fourth-named storm usually doesn’t form until about Aug. 15, meaning any formation during the next month will keep the season ahead of a typical schedule.

Despite the hostile conditions in the Atlantic, hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University maintain that 2024 will be a busy season in the Atlantic.

CSU released its updated outlook Tuesday, which calls for an additional 22 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

"This forecast is of above-normal confidence. We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean," CSU forecasters stated during their most recent tropical update. "As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season."

The season runs through Nov. 30, but nearly 60% of cyclone formation occurs in August and September.

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In fact, high dust activity tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity due to dry air introduced into the storm-formation region .

Title:

Content: This weekend marks the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. This is typically when the Atlantic is most active for tropical systems. This year, however, the Atlantic looks to be settling down, at least for the time being.

Not too long ago the Atlantic was busy with Hurricane Danielle, then Hurricane Earl forming. Both of those storms remained out in the open Atlantic away from the United States. Now that Danielle has faded and Earl is moving away, there are not as many areas to watch in the Atlantic.

The latest Tropical Update

For now, there is only one area of interest off the coast of Africa. This area only has a low chance of development over the next five days. This doesn’t mean that another storm won’t form in the days to come, but it is possible that we will see a lull in tropical activity.

Saharan dust continues to be a limiting factor for storm development. This dry, dusty air limits and chokes off thunderstorm development in the Atlantic. Thus limiting the number of tropical systems. For now, more Saharan dust is expected to move out into the open Atlantic, hindering any tropical development over the next few days.

While presently there are factors that are limiting tropical development in the Atlantic, there is still half of the season left to go. We still have time for conditions to change and for more storms to develop later on.

The Weather Authority will continue to monitor the topics and bring you the latest.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

Positive and Negative Impacts:

Negative Impacts:
Saharan dust increases particulate pollution, yielding poor air quality and enhanced health risks for vulnerable populations.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

It can worsen allergic reactions and asthma, reduce visibility and disrupt transportation, and over time, can contribute to erosion or equipment degradation.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

It introduces agricultural pests and pathogens, risking both human and crop health, and may disrupt energy production where solar resources are important .

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on agriculture?

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

Positive Impacts:
Minerals in Saharan dust supply essential nutrients across the Atlantic, sustaining ocean productivity and fertilizing terrestrial ecosystems.

What are the positive effects of Saharan dust on the environment?

carries microorganisms and nutrients that act as fertilizer

delivers essential minerals for phytoplankton

The dust layer also suppresses hurricane and storm formation, providing a temporary reduction in weather-related risks during the tropical cyclone season .

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

Municipal Preparations and Mitigation Strategies:

To prepare for Saharan dust events, municipalities—especially those like San Antonio with a history of seasonal dust episodes—should adopt a layered emergency management approach:

1.

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

Monitor and Alert: Increase the use of air quality monitoring systems.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

Issue public health advisories when PM2.5 and PM10 reach hazardous levels, with targeted messaging for at-risk groups (children, elderly, those with chronic disease) .

Title:

Content: An Unexpected Reason It'll Be Harder to Breathe as Earth Warms

If you think it's just human-made pollution that'll be clogging our lungs, think again.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

As global temperatures and emissions rise, it’s going to become harder to breathe. Air quality issues won’t just come from human activity, though—the natural world could also release more pollution in a rapidly warming world.

A recent study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment found that a warming planet means more particles in the atmosphere, including dust and organic aerosols from plants. While we usually think of plants for their benefits to the environment, in certain circumstances they can actually release compounds that aren’t great for our respiratory systems.

Researchers at the University of California Riverside examined how air quality could change over time as temperatures and carbon dioxide increase. They looked at data from 13 models that participate in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, which compares climate data outcomes. Results from the models showed that increases in CO2 and hotter temperatures will create more global average concentrations of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. The two largest contributors will come from dust and organic aerosols from plants. PM2.5 is particularly bad for humans: Long-term exposure is linked to lung problems, heart disease, and premature death.

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If global temperatures increase by 4 degrees Celsius, then dust and plant emissions are predicted to increase as much as 14%, according to the study. But if the world manages to stay within 2 degrees Celsius of warming, that increase in PM2.5 is about 7%. “The more we increase CO2, the more PM2.5 we see being put into the atmosphere, and the inverse is also true. The more we reduce, the better the air quality gets,” James Gomez, UC Riverside doctoral student and lead author of the study, said in a press release.

All plants produce chemicals that are called biogenic volatile organic compounds, or BVOCs (if you’ve ever smelled a freshly mown lawn, you’ve experienced these compounds). The BVOCs oxidize in the atmosphere and form organic aerosols; an increase in BVOCs could create public health issues. “Really anybody that has respiratory issues could be negatively impacted by air pollution,” Gomez told Earther. “Even an average healthy person who breathes in excessive amounts of air pollution could be negatively affected and develop respiratory issues.”

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The second largest contributor to the increase in naturally occurring air pollution would come from the Sahara Desert in Africa. Results from the models showed that a warmer world means changes in wind patterns. Remember the large dust cloud from the Sahara that traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and hovered over the southern U.S. and the Caribbean in 2020? Now imagine a bigger dust cloud. “We looked at the magnitude of the change,” Gomez said. “The dust events that do occur will be more likely to be stronger…The ones that happen would probably be larger.”

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The study did not consider other forms of air pollution caused by the natural world, like wildfire smoke, because that’s harder to place into climate models, according to Gomez. Because of that omission, he thinks the results are underestimating how bad PM2.5 pollution could become if emissions and global warming aren’t reigned in.

And that’s not even talking about human-caused pollution. Gomez pointed out that, even though human pollution was not calculated for here, human activity has led carbon dioxide to increase in our atmosphere. “Indirectly, we are causing these changes in the natural system,” Gomez said. “Nature is making the air pollution worse, as a result of our net actions.”

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

public awareness & education
implement a warning system

2. Reduce Population Exposure: Advise citizens to limit outdoor activity during high dust periods, close windows, and use air conditioning/filtration indoors.

How can people protect their health during Saharan dust storms?

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

Provide guidelines for use of N95 masks for sensitive populations.

How can people protect their health during Saharan dust storms?

3. Healthcare Surge Readiness: Prepare local healthcare facilities for increased respiratory patient loads.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

Ensure pharmacies and clinics have adequate supplies for asthma and allergy management.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

Infrastructure and Traffic: Implement visibility-driven mitigation on major traffic corridors, such as reduced speed limits or staggered work shifts.

Coordinate with airports regarding potential flight delays due to low visibility.

Schedule additional cleaning of critical city and transportation infrastructure .

Power Grid and Solar Energy: Conduct inspection and cleaning of air-handling and power generation equipment, especially solar panels and substations, as dust buildup impairs performance and risks equipment failures.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

6. Public Communication: Educate citizens before the dust season about symptoms and preventive strategies, emphasizing care for vulnerable groups, and distributing real-time updates during dust episodes.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

7. Environmental Stability: Invest in vegetation and soil management projects to stabilize urban/rural open spaces, reducing the risk of re-entrainment of settled dust and supporting local ecosystem health .

In summary, for San Antonio and similar cities, Saharan dust storms pose a significant recurrent hazard, particularly to sensitive individuals and city systems exposed to poor air quality and reduced visibility.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

Timely monitoring, coordinated health and infrastructure preparedness, and clear public communication are key to minimizing the adverse impacts of these natural events while maximizing the benefit of forewarning and historical lessons from similar events across the Americas.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

health facilities readiness
public awareness & education
implement a warning system

Continued vigilance will be required as climate-driven changes may intensify dust events in coming years .


Since Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) became Crown Prince in 2017, Saudi Arabia has witnessed an unprecedented wave of transformation under the Vision 2030 agenda.

This reform blueprint was designed in response to mounting internal social demands for modernization and the external economic pressures of global oil market volatility.

Vision 2030 aims to reduce the Kingdom’s historic dependence on oil by diversifying the economy, modernizing infrastructure, and opening new sectors—including tourism, entertainment, and foreign investment—traditionally inaccessible to outsiders .

A defining aspect of MBS's reforms is the curtailing of the Wahhabi religious establishment’s authority.

The once-powerful religious police, responsible for strict social enforcement, have seen their powers severely reduced, as seen in the abolition of their enforcement authority and the introduction of secular national events like Foundation Day.

Religious regulations in public life have relaxed, with new policies limiting mosque donations and emphasizing respect for diverse social circumstances .

Socially, the empowerment of women has been pivotal.

Reforms now allow women to drive, attend major religious pilgrimages without male guardians, and actively participate in the workforce—reflected in the rise of female labor force participation to nearly 36% by 2023.

Women are increasingly present as entrepreneurs and public figures, particularly in new business, entertainment, and fashion sectors .

The entertainment and tourism industries have rapidly evolved, with the Kingdom hosting major global sporting events like Formula 1 races and heavyweight boxing matches, opening cinemas after decades-long bans, and launching projects such as Neom—a futuristic smart city designed to attract international investment.

Music festivals, high-profile concerts, and international celebrities are now common, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s shift toward a culturally vibrant and globally integrated society .

Since Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) became Crown Prince in 2017, Saudi Arabia has witnessed an unprecedented wave of transformation under the Vision 2030 agenda.

Title:

Content: Vision 2030 creates a new reality
The security of the homeland and the safety of the Saudi people and their supreme interests are the priorities of Mohammed bin Salman.
Thursday 21st September 2023 9: 25 AM
Citizen - Editorial Team
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, made headlines with Fox News, Arab and international newspapers, channels and websites.
Priorities of the Crown Prince
Observers confirm that the security of the homeland and the safety of the Saudi people and their higher interests, economic development and social welfare are among the priorities of the Crown Prince, who has always expressed this in fact rather than in words, which is clearly reflected by the advanced levels witnessed by the Kingdom in all fields.
Vision 2030 creates a new reality
The Crown Prince also believes in the essential role of the citizen in the implementation of Vision 2030, which created a new reality and achieved achievements that mimic the aspirations of the Saudi people in their security, economy, education, health, livelihood and social welfare.
Vision 2030 has also contributed to the promotion of citizenship rights, the value of individuals, gender equality and the empowerment of women, which are well established principles that contribute to Vision 2030, as evidenced by the increase in the percentage of Saudi ownership of housing and the increase of women ’ s participation in the workforce to 36% more than double what it was five years ago.
Elimination of extremism and corruption
The Kingdom ’ s success in eliminating extremism and corruption in record time reflects the steadfastness of political will and its full commitment in deterring threats and challenges that affect the security of the homeland and undermine its development.
The Crown Prince ’ s assertion that the Kingdom ’ s investment in sports is for the happiness of its people and not for the satisfaction of the world is an extension of its consistent approach to the sovereignty of its internal decisions and that it is built, takes into account and targets, first and foremost, the interests of the Saudi people.
The kingdom will remain steadfast in its principles.
The Crown Prince ’ s dialogue confirms that the Kingdom has been, remains and will remain steadfast on its principles, cherishing its values and preserving its religious constants, which was expressed by His Highness the Crown Prince through his emphasis on the religious specificity of the state, which makes it impossible to establish public houses of worship other than the Islamic religion.
The Kingdom also categorically rejects the imposition of any guardianship over its judicial system or the rulings of its courts, and just as it respects the jurisprudence of other countries, others must respect its jurisprudence.

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

This reform blueprint was designed in response to mounting internal social demands for modernization and the external economic pressures of global oil market volatility.

Title:

Content: Riyadh Season 2022: Why did the new marketing announcement infuriate Saudi Tweeters?
A large number of social media pioneers have interacted with the announcement of the new Riyadh season published by the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh for this year.
The announcement shows sports and artistic symbols, including Real Madrid player Karim Benzema and Liverpool player Mohamed Salah, in addition to a number of Arab artists.
Tweeters criticized the absence of any Saudi artist in the ad, as well as resentment of the "huge amounts of advertising costs."
On the other hand, other Tweeters praised the announcement, noting their approval of the social, cultural and artistic changes witnessed by Saudi Arabia in the recent period.
Announcement Launch
The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, launched on Sunday through his Twitter account the official marketing announcement for the Riyadh 2022 season, which garnered more than 22 million views and interaction with thousands of Tweeters.
The Riyadh Season announcement video featured dazzling fireworks scenes and included a group of famous art and sports from around the world.
Among those who participated in the announcement are Egyptian football star and English club Liverpool Mohamed Salah, and Real Madrid star and recent Golden Ball winner Karim Benzema.
The announcement also featured Lebanese star Nancy Ajram and famous singer Majid al-Muhandis and artist Nadine Noujaim.
The video included scenes from the entertainment events of the third edition of the Riyadh season.
These events include games, restaurants, cafes, in addition to concerts, plays, and a number of international exhibitions in various entertainment fields.
Angry Tweeters
A number of Saudi Tweeters have expressed anger at the marketing announcement, criticizing several points in the ad.
Some saw it as "pointless and pointless extravagance".
Others questioned the “costs of such a huge announcement. ”
Others highlighted the lack of "Saudi art icons and celebrities" in the marketing advertisement for the Riyadh season.
Proponents of the Declaration
On the other hand, some tweets talked about "the great success achieved by the Riyadh season in its first and second editions technically and publicly, in addition to the great economic return."
This team predicted "the success of the new season like the last two seasons."
Others noted their fascination with the announcement, given the participation of Salah and Benzema in it.
Social and cultural transformation
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant transformation in the cultural, artistic and social landscape.
This has sparked controversy among old-school conservatives and neo-reformists, who want a more open and modern Saudi Arabia than before.
There is a fierce debate within Saudi Arabia about whether Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the owner of Saudi Vision 2030, will be able to achieve his goals.
Vision 2030
• Among the goals of the plans revealed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to "modernize the economy and transform the country into a tourist and modern interface, in addition to transforming the economy away from oil, and open new tributaries of national income, depending on clean energy, tourism and entertainment."
• He also hopes to end the country ’ s dependence on oil by 2030, which will require radical changes to a bureaucracy that has thwarted previous reforms and a willingness to challenge the powerful religious conservatism.
• These plans also entail strengthening the role of the private sector, which currently depends on government spending.
• The vision is to try to develop and promote the country through a large plan that will work on comprehensive economic and social reform and work to develop it.
• It also includes the emergence of new industries by privatizing the Kingdom ’ s largest companies, providing job opportunities for young people to reduce unemployment, and establishing a strong investment fund comparable to the world ’ s largest.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Vision 2030 aims to reduce the Kingdom’s historic dependence on oil by diversifying the economy, modernizing infrastructure, and opening new sectors—including tourism, entertainment, and foreign investment—traditionally inaccessible to outsiders .

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

Diversify the economy from oil
modernize infrastructure

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To lessen reliance on oil.
To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy
To attract foreign investment

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

A defining aspect of MBS's reforms is the curtailing of the Wahhabi religious establishment’s authority.

Title:

Content: Between Enlightenment and Tyranny, Abdul Ghani Salama
Wednesday 08 March 2023 09: 47 am / Jerusalem time + 2GMT
The Mu ’ tazilite can be considered the first Enlightenment movement among the Islamic sects and currents that emerged in the Umayyad and Abbasid eras, their ideas and principles included many of the values of freedom, justice and victory of the value of reason against the culture of inertia before the holy text.
They represented a qualitative and progressive shift compared to the ideas and ideological orientations presented at the time.
This is from the point of view of modernity and enlightenment, or who can be considered moderates.
However, from the point of view of jurists and Salafists, they are deviants from the faith and heretics.
What is taken on the Mu ’ tazilites that they allied with the Sultan (Al-Rashid, Al-Ma ’ mun, Al-Mutasim, Al-Wathiq) against their opponents from the jurists, during what was then known as the ordeal of the creation of the Qur ’ an, and their silence on their persecution, including the imprisonment and torture of the Jalil Sheikh Ahmed bin Hanbal..
The Mutazilites wanted to spread their ideas through power (that is, by force), and through the intellectual elites, and did not pay attention to the common people, as their ideas were advanced and at a higher level than the ordinary understand.
Therefore, as soon as the power came to the Caliph al-Mutawakel, who hated them for personal reasons, he turned against them, ate them, burned their books, and ordered to curse them on the pulpits, until they were about to become extinct, and they ended in a mere phenomenon that came and ended in a historical moment that was not repeated after.
Thus, the most important opportunity that could have established a reign of reason and thought was lost, and to move society to the verge of enlightenment and true renaissance.
This was accompanied by the attack of the Salafist jurisprudential allied with the authority, and supported against the philosophers, theologians and naturalists who appeared in the three centuries that represented the golden age of Islamic civilization (800 – 1100 AD), which ended with their defeat, the victory of the Salafist jurisprudential current and the predominance of the culture of sanctifying the text, and the prohibition of thinking.
These philosophers, scientists and writers did not form an ideological current, nor a political group, nor did they really need power, nor did they spread their ideas among the general public, they are elitist ideas first, and contradict the prevailing reactionary ideas second.
Their intellectual, philosophical, and scientific output, therefore, remained confined to books, and was not built upon by later generations, while Europe benefited on its way to the Renaissance.
With the loss of this historic opportunity, Arab and Islamic societies have entered a state of weakness, disintegration, backwardness, ignorance and tyranny of the ruling regimes, and are still going through the process of decline with a terrible and strange acceleration.
In the current era, some Arab countries have fought attempts to rise and emancipate, and build societies close to modernity, exemplified by the experiences of the Baath Party (both Iraqi and Syrian) and the Nasserist experience.
But the most important reason (from my point of view) is that they sought to impose their visions on the masses by force and arbitrariness, i.e. they did not take care of the human being first, as a citizen, as a partner in government and taking responsibility, but they violated his humanity, deprived him of his rights, and turned into dictatorial authorities.
On the other hand, the experiences of the Gulf countries can be seen as attempts to enter the era of modernity (at least this is what the rulers of those countries think), so they built structures, developed infrastructure, opened their borders to tourism, brought in foreign experts from all over the world, and opened up to Western culture, but in strange forms, similar to the import of products. In various disciplines, it organized exhibitions of their products, hosted international sports tournaments, and brought in singers, artists and musical groups.
This process began in a strange way and ended in the form of formalistic products, that is, artificial modernity, touched its shells, and did not even come close to its content.
This is because it is a supra-authoritarian path that has not been embraced by the masses, nor by their living forces, nor by civil society organizations (perhaps because they are already weak, absent, or bribed and silenced), and as a result man has been absent as the object, the centerpiece and the pillar of the modernist project.
Since Prince Mohammed bin Salman became the de facto ruler of the country until he began his modernization project, which required him to get rid of the old covenant, and their Wahhabi values, he took a series of measures to marginalize the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue, in addition to a set of decisions aimed at satisfying young people and meet their aspirations (in the entertainment side, especially) and to satisfy women, and grant them many rights that were deprived. In addition to its development, tourism, entertainment and other projects.
There is no doubt that bin Salman ’ s steps are courageous, and required him to confront the religious establishment (which contained it with unexpected ease) and to confront the Wahhabi ideology, which has been dominant and dominant in societal culture since at least the 1980s.
But what this project will achieve will not differ substantially from what its neighbors in the UAE and Qatar have achieved, that is, the achievement of artificial modernity, and for the same reason: the absence of the masses, and the absence of any progressive human vision that cares about the human being first and foremost, that is, his spiritual, cultural and psychological construction, and his rights and freedoms.
As a result, these regimes will continue to practice tyranny and corruption, and the citizen will remain marginalized and oppressed, but within a developed infrastructure.
This fatal mistake was not only made by political regimes, it was also practiced by movements, political parties and intellectual currents.
If we take the example of Islamist movements, we will find that they are a microcosm of these authoritarian regimes, that is, their absence of the masses (they are used only in crowds, marches and at the ballot box), the absence of the human person, the neglect or opposition to the values of citizenship, and the suppression of freedoms (not accepting other parties, even fighting them).
This picture is almost identical to other national, nationalist, leftist and secular political movements and parties.
That is, the primacy of ideology over man / citizen.
Among the manifestations of interest in the formal aspect and the external appearance of modernity is the focus on women; Islamists, whether they rule a state, or a neighborhood in a popular neighborhood, the first and most important concern is women (dress, adornment, hijab, obedience to her husband..), and if there is a calamity, or the rain is delayed, or the country is plunged into chaos, the woman is responsible.
As for the leftists and secularists, their modernist project is almost focused on women (they must be emancipated, take off the hijab, and gain their freedom …).
Even the Soviet Union and the socialist countries made the same mistake; instead of building man (freedom, justice and citizenship), they suppressed him and confiscated his freedoms, including his religious freedoms, and granted him sexual freedom.
Renaissance, enlightenment and modernity are not achieved by force or from above, they must be a joint project between the authority, the masses, the educated elites and the institutions of civil society, each according to its role and status, with mutual and harmonious paths between the summit and the base.

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

Has been reduced to morality awareness campaigns and COVID-19 efforts.

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

What is one of the first priorities of Vision 2030 regarding ideological extremism?

Combating extremist and ideological thinking

The once-powerful religious police, responsible for strict social enforcement, have seen their powers severely reduced, as seen in the abolition of their enforcement authority and the introduction of secular national events like Foundation Day.

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From Scratch: How Saudi MBC TV Presenter Sara Murad Launched Her Own Perfume Brand

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Sara Murad has been a fixture in Middle East media since 2013, by first starting out as a presenter on the Rotana TV channel, and now she’s on the number 1 morning show in the Middle East called, “Sabah Alkhair Ya Arab,” on MBC. Now, the Saudi television host can add perfumer to her resume. Murad has just launched her own namesake fragrance brand, By Sara Murad this month. The inaugural scent “Black Oud” captures her professional journey that’s meant to exude power and confidence.

“It has taken a lot of courage and strength for me to get to where I am, and with the launch of Black Oud, I have tried to capture a sense of power and self-confidence within a bottle,” says Murad. “I aim to encourage and inspire everyone to follow their passion and strive for success by sharing with them a bold scent that holds a very close place in my heart with a touch of nostalgia, combining notes of familiar scents throughout my journey.”

When people think of Saudi Arabia, picturesque desert scenery, Palm Date trees, and the mistreatment of women come to mind. For the latter, things are changing. Saudi Arabia is a much different place than it was post 1979, when harsh social and religious reforms during the Sahwa era, or Islamic Awakening took place. Under these reforms, women could not drive, female singers were not allowed to sing on TV, and music and films were drastically lessened under strong religious reforms.

The country is vastly opening up with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud’s Vision 2030, and women, especially women in the capital of Riyadh are masters of their own destinies. “As a Saudi woman, with the 2030 vision and the increasing goal of empowering women within the region, I feel supported and empowered to launch and grow my business- and I want each person who uses our fragrance to feel the same way,” says Murad. Many women like her are entrepreneurs, launching their own ventures in fashion, trade, entertainment, and many other sectors.

If you haven’t been to the Levant or the Arab Gulf, then let me fill you in, fragrances are serious a thing. Just as a wine connoisseur knows how to pair the right wines with a meal, or can identify which grapes make up a certain wine, so the people in the Middle East know how to layer scents that start with lathering with the right soaps in the shower, and moves onto layering scents as one gets dressed. “Layering is such a fun art. I feel that perfumes, just like clothes, can be paired together to create different olfactory ‘ensembles’ to suit each occasion and event. And again, just like clothes – I wouldn’t wear the same outfit for a day at work and then to a gala dinner – I consider fragrance as an essential part of getting dressed and switch up my scent based on the setting,” Murad states. Perfume brands know the power that certain scents have, as they can bring up certain feelings. Fragrances are personal and can remind us of certain people and awaken emotions.

“Growing up in the Middle East, fragrance has always played a huge part in our culture – not only when it comes to perfumes but also through home fragrances and bukhoor (scented wood infused with perfume oil that is then burnt over charcoal as incense for home),” she says. “Growing up in an Arab household, I was exposed to fragrances since I was a child. The art of perfumery is very much embedded within Arab culture, with dedicated scents and fragrances for each occasion, event, and moment. Ouds and oils from the very foundation of our journey and is something that has been passed on through generations. The women and even men of our family wouldn’t leave the house without spritzing their favorite perfume or oud and that is a characteristic that has been passed on to young people. Living in a city like Dubai has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and understand the significance of perfume and scent across diverse cultures and backgrounds. It has been a very insightful experience as each person has a different story to tell and I get to learn so much from everyone I meet.”

Oud is one such note in fragrances that is unique and familiar in the Middle East region. Found in Agar trees, which are native to Southeast Asia, India, and Bangladesh, it is strong and distinct. Walking behind women in Dubai, Saudi, or anywhere in the Gulf, you catch a whiff of Oud notes constantly. “I enjoyed collecting perfumes from different brands and experimenting with layering different notes to create something new and unique,” says Murad of her childhood. With the launch of By Sara Murad and specifically our debut fragrance, Black Oud, I wanted to bring my vision to life by creating a sophisticated blend between the East and the West, combining notes from the Middle East with the expertise of some of the world’s most renowned perfumers from France.”

She’s a fan of musk notes that include oud, leather, and amber. “We’re already working on By Sara Murad’s second fragrance launch and this will have a prominent leather base note. While my preferences have been heavily influenced by my surroundings when it comes to By Sara Murad, I wouldn’t limit our offering exclusively to match my preference. The vision of the brand is to create something for everyone. But, I do feel that the world of fragrance needs to be more inclusive and I wanted to blur the line between ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ scents with my fragrances.”

Launching

The pandemic really affected the international perfume market, which in 2022 was valued at $50.6 million, according to Grand View Research. The industry is expected to grow at a 5.9% compound annual growth rate from 2023-2030. Personal grooming and a demand for luxury and exotic fragrances has contributed to this. So, when Murad launched her brand, she knew it was going to be “a whole new ball game.” The brand and this new fragrance took two years to create from concept, to finalizing the ingredients, to oil samples, design, production, and marketing.

“I am so amazed by the amount of detail that goes into curating one single scent. We have gone through rounds and rounds of trials and prototypes to finally reveal Black Oud. I have seen a lot of people launching perfumes but after experiencing this myself, I can say that there are two ways to go about this: an easy way and a hard way, but it is the hard way that promises a fine and hard quality product. Like everything in life, you have to put in the hard work and effort to achieve results. I am launching a brand, not just a perfume and I feel that one of my key takeaways from this experience is to carefully choose the team you work with. I was lucky to be surrounded by a driven, positive and supportive team that helped us smoothly overcome any setbacks and challenges that came our way,” she says.

Murad’s strategy is to create a luxury brand with long-lasting perfume that has the potential to grow internationally. “We sought out the best of the best in the industry to create a formula that interprets the quintessentially Middle Eastern scent of oud, with a modern twist, creating a scent for everyone. Black Oud aims to take something so close to our culture and reinterpret it for a global audience,” she says. To do this, she chose to work with French perfumeries. Their know-how and her knowledge of the Middle East is the bridging of East and West that she wants her brand to be known for.

But just because the Middle East market loves muskier notes and all things oud, doesn’t mean a Western market will. “We carried out our research across varied sample groups that included people from different cultures, backgrounds, and genders. The overall feedback we received is that the scent does connect with each individual: if not culturally, it is the element of empowerment that they relate to,” she says.

Balancing a TV career and launching her own fragrance is no easy feat, but Sara Murad has taken on the challenge, learning and growing with her French team. For a brand that’s about professional journey, it has given her the chance not only to understand her own journey, but also other people’s and what it means to launch something from scratch.

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How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Religious regulations in public life have relaxed, with new policies limiting mosque donations and emphasizing respect for diverse social circumstances .

Title:

Content: The square project.
A new step by bin Salman for “changing identity ”? | Politics and economics | In-depth analysis with a broader perspective than DW | DW | 12.03.2023
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Politics and Economics
The square project.
A new step by bin Salman to “change identity ”?
Is Saudi Arabia moving towards more identity modernization?
A new project in the capital Riyadh mimics the shape of the Kaaba, in a context that is witnessing a shift from the Saudi leadership towards easing the historical and religious dimension.
The giant cube in the middle of the new square project has nothing to do with the Kaaba in Mecca, although there is a similarity in the geometry.
A huge project announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman under the name of "Square Project" in the capital Riyadh, with a width, height and length of 400 meters, which will be in the center of Riyadh, with the aim of developing the largest "Downtown", where the Saudi leadership plans to be the largest city center in the world.
The project includes "an innovative museum, a university specializing in technology and design, a multi-use theater and areas for live and entertainment shows," the Saudi Press Agency announced a few days ago, and is scheduled to be completed in 2030.
The project resembles the Kaaba in its geometric form, which has left a great controversy on social media sites.
Bruno Schmidt Fuerherd, a political analyst from Cambridge University, told DW that “in the Saudi public sphere, religion is increasingly being replaced by culture, ” denying that cube-shaped architecture is something specific to the Kaaba.
Change Date of Incorporation
This new square is not the only change in Saudi Arabia; it has been preceded by other steps that confirm a trend towards modernizing the country.
For the first time, the anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state was celebrated last year, and the occasion was designated on February 22 of each year, known as "Foundation Day", in addition to the Saudi National Day celebrated on September 23 of each year, and dates back to the occasion of the unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
The most important thing in establishing the "Foundation Day" is to change the date of the founding of the country from 1744 to 1727.
The year 1744 is linked to the agreement between the ruling Al Saud family and the cleric Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the leader of the so-called Wahhabi Islam, who remained in control of Saudi Arabia for decades.
The agreement includes Abdul Wahab's support for the House of Saud in power, from a religious point of view, while the ruling family financially supports the Wahhabi family and allows it to have authority over education and public morals, and even laws were the same Wahhabi.
In 1727, it is related to the rise to power of Mohammed bin Saud as the founder of the first Saudi state, after his control of the Emirate of Diriyah north of Riyadh.
“The new interpretation of the birth of the state clearly underestimates the role of religion, ” says Schmidt Feuerhard, highlighting that“ the goal is a national campaign to celebrate non-religious holidays. ”
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia declared Flag Day, a day officially celebrated for the first time on March 11, 2023, which dates back to the day the current Saudi flag was approved by King Abdulaziz.
The royal decree referred to the Testimony of Tawhid as symbolizing "the message of peace and Islam" while the sword symbolizes "strength, nobility, wisdom and prestige".
The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs also announced major changes to the rules of the month of Ramadan, including urging not to bring children to mosques, prohibiting collection of donations inside mosques, not to be absent from work except for the utmost necessity, taking into account the conditions of people in Taraweeh prayers and supplications, and prohibiting the use of cameras in mosques.
Change in a general context
These changes have generally been accepted by a large number of Saudis, and Schmidt Fuerherd points to several explanations for the phenomenon, including sending tens of thousands of Saudis abroad with full government funding, that have made them receptive to these cultural changes in the country.
Education and job creation for Saudi youth have also become priorities for the kingdom, a key part of Vision 2030, announced by the crown prince during his rise in politics, since he was crown prince ’ s deputy.
Since 2016, Mohammed bin Salman has announced a series of decisions to change the face of the conservative kingdom.
This included diversifying the economy by not making it focused on oil, modernizing the country ’ s infrastructure, creating a recreational policy that allowed the establishment of music festivals and the opening of cinemas, and the largest beneficiaries are the women of the Kingdom, which eased restrictions on them, including allowing driving and Hajj and Umrah without a mahram, and mixing became normal, as well as abolishing the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
Mohammed bin Salman wants to modernize Saudi society without guaranteeing political freedoms
Freedom is not guaranteed!
Activist Loujain al-Hathloul spent three years in prison for defending women ’ s rights. Last year, 34-year-old Salma al-Shehab was sentenced to 34 years in prison for liking or tweeting about human rights in the kingdom. Noura bint Saeed al-Qahtani was sentenced to 45 years in prison. For the same reason.
“While there are more social freedoms, the state wants to remain the owner of change. ”
Schmidt Feuerherd says, “So any form of political activity is thwarted, and critics and opponents are portrayed as traitors to the nation. ”
Jennifer Hollis / EG

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Socially, the empowerment of women has been pivotal.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

Strengthened women's rights
gender equality

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

Reforms now allow women to drive, attend major religious pilgrimages without male guardians, and actively participate in the workforce—reflected in the rise of female labor force participation to nearly 36% by 2023.

Title:

Content: We have lived for more than forty years in a period of darkness, especially in social and cultural issues, and the godfathers of that period were dark religious currents that repressed women primarily from work and participation in national development and obtaining their natural rights as in any society in the world and in some Islamic countries that used to leave the followers of those currents on winter and summer trips. This closed-minded interpretation of religion clearly influenced society for those who lived in those decades.
This stage of the abduction of the Islamic currents of society is over thanks to the vision of the Kingdom 2030, led by His Highness the Crown Prince, and some believed that its essence and objectives are economic only, but the vision as we live it now has social, cultural and religious aspects, and the Kingdom is living through a cultural revolution in its broad sense that establishes clearly the state of rights and duties protected by the laws issued successively.
I remember an answer by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman years ago at an economic conference in the Saudi capital, when he said, “We were living a normal life before 1979, and now we are returning to it in the vision project of a moderate Islam open to the world. ”
He stressed that 70% of the Saudi people are under 30 years old, and we will not waste 30 years dealing with extremist ideas, we will destroy them completely.
This is the vision of the father of the vision in the thought that our country has been pursuing for years, and with it the ideas, energy and faith of the young men and women of the homeland. Anyone who witnesses the work that is taking place in our homeland, it is clear to him that this vision is a realistic ideology and a road map to be followed by all government agencies and the private sector.
His Highness the Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said clearly and explicitly in his speech at the Human Capabilities Initiative conference in Riyadh: The past three or four decades we have lived in a phase (napping) and not an awakening, or as His Highness called it (the black box), or the black period, in terms of excluding Saudi women from participating in most fields. Creativity.
The increase in the presence of women in the Kingdom is evidenced by the fact that the participation rate of women in the labor force reached 35.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023, such figures and clear and frank discourse towards the dark forces covered by the veil of religion confirm that the vision project in all its aspects, especially social and economic, continues to move in the right direction and achieve its goals.
The speeches and assurances of His Highness the Crown Prince towards the Kingdom ’ s projects and the aspirations of the youth of the country give us confidence that human investment and development is the backbone of the national economy; which occupies the forefront of the vision ’ s projects.
The speech of His Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman gives us a conviction that the project of change in all its forms is moving forward strongly, and the employment of religion and the fallacies of weak privacy in our country is clearly gone. Yes, I understand that the (Islamist) thought has dominated in the past decades, but it is God ’ s grace that our leadership, especially the Crown Prince, has the clarity of years to deal with this deceptive misguided thought.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

And women's workforce participation doubled to 36%

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What new permissions have Saudi women gained under Mohammed bin Salman's rule?

Women are increasingly present as entrepreneurs and public figures, particularly in new business, entertainment, and fashion sectors .

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

Strengthened women's rights
gender equality

The entertainment and tourism industries have rapidly evolved, with the Kingdom hosting major global sporting events like Formula 1 races and heavyweight boxing matches, opening cinemas after decades-long bans, and launching projects such as Neom—a futuristic smart city designed to attract international investment.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy
To attract foreign investment

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

Music festivals, high-profile concerts, and international celebrities are now common, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s shift toward a culturally vibrant and globally integrated society .

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?