Harmattan
Harmattan is a seasonal dry wind that sweeps across West Africa from the Sahara Desert, typically from November to March, carrying fine dust particles that reduce visibility and humidity. This wind not only affects daily life by drying out skin and crops but has also influenced regional art, folklore, and even modern weather forecasting as climate change alters its patterns.
Did you know?
The Harmattan wind transports about 180 million tons of dust from the Sahara Desert each year, which journeys across the Atlantic Ocean and deposits essential nutrients like phosphorus and iron into the Amazon rainforest, helping to fertilize its soil and support its biodiversity—proving that this African wind plays a surprising role in global ecosystems.
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