Dense dust affects the Canary Islands, Spain
Following Storm Dorothea, the Spanish Canary Islands were affected by a haze brought on by strong gusts of wind on 17 December 2024, which carried suspended dust from the Sahara Desert. This dense haze, known locally as calima, led to decreased air quality in several areas. The islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura were the hardest hit, with daily concentrations of particulate matter reaching levels higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. Calima can have significant impacts on air quality, visibility, and health.
Dust is visible hovering over Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image acquired on 17 December 2024.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service provides daily analyses and forecasts of worldwide long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants, which are useful for informed decision-making to help keep communities safer. More information is available here.
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