Sand and dust storms are affecting more than 330 million people across over 150 countries, according to the latest Airborne Dust Bulletin issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The organization has highlighted growing threats to health, the economy, and ecosystems, urging stronger investment in monitoring and early warning systems. The 2024 bulletin reports that while global average dust surface concentrations were slightly lower than in 2023, regional disparities were significant.
In some heavily impacted areas, concentrations exceeded the long-term average from 1981 to 2010. Each year, approximately two billion tonnes of dust are emitted into the atmosphere, mostly originating from desert regions in North Africa and the Middle East. A significant portion of airborne dust transport is natural. However, the WMO noted that poor water and land management practices, drought, and environmental degradation are increasingly contributing to dust emissions.
The findings were released ahead of the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, observed annually on 12 July. In 2024, concentrations were lower in many source regions but higher than average in several downwind areas. The regions most affected by long-range dust transport include the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean between West Africa and the Caribbean, South America, the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and parts of central and eastern China.
Dust costs US economy over $150 billion
African dust was notably observed crossing the Atlantic and affecting the Caribbean Sea. A new indicator developed jointly by the WMO and the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that between 2018 and 2022, around 3.8 billion people were exposed to dust levels above global safety thresholds. This represents a 31 percent rise from 2.9 billion during 2003 to 2007. In the most affected regions, exposure lasted more than 87 percent of the time, equivalent to over 1,600 days in five years. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the broader implications, stating that sand and dust storms significantly damage public health and disrupt transportation, agriculture, and solar energy production.
She underscored the economic burden of these storms and stressed that early warning systems and mitigation strategies offer substantial returns on investment. Economic costs are often undercounted. A 2017 case study from the United States estimated dust and wind erosion losses at approximately US$154 billion, more than four times higher than in 1995. This included impacts on households, health, crops, and energy systems. The study also noted that total costs are likely higher due to limited national data on the full range of dust-related effects. – By Content Syndication Services.