The Saharan dust that travels across the Atlantic Ocean is not ALL bad. Here’s why.

The dust from the Sahara desert is found to have a positive effect on the Amazon rainforest

SAN ANTONIO – We see dust plumes make it to South Texas every summer and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who enjoys it. It does make sunsets more vibrant, but the side effects of those with dust allergies seem to outweigh any positive. That’s the case here in our part of the world, but travel to the Amazon rainforest and it’s a completely different story.

Dust this week

It has to do with phosphorus, a remnant in the sand from when parts of the Sahara desert were lake beds. The phosphorous essentially acts as a fertilizer, traveling from one of the most desolate parts of the world to one of the most fertile, according to NASA.

A research paper written in 2015, published in the Geophysical Research Letters, details how satellites are used to estimate how much phosphorus is transported over multiple years. According to the lead author of the study, Hongbin Yu, the phosphorus is a key ingredient for plant proteins and growth. The Amazon depends on this phosphorus to flourish since it loses much of it through runoff after rainfall. In fact, the study shows that 90% of Amazon soils are phosphorus-deficient. The dust can help to make up that deficit.

SEE MORE: Photos: KSAT viewers send in photos of San Antonio skies as Saharan dust arrives

As the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon spans over 40 percent of South America. Although quite large, droughts have left tree species subject to large-scale dieback, as well as making them more susceptible to forest fires.

According to the research, 22,000 tons of dust arrive at the Amazon each year from the Sahara. That’s a lot of dust!

Scientists continue to study the connection between the two very different ecosystems and it should be noted that the amount of dust deposited changes year to year. This year, however, should be a good year for the Amazon.

READ MORE FROM KSAT.COM:

Answering your questions about Saharan dust

What you need to know about Saharan dust in Texas

Weather this week in San Antonio: Heat and Saharan dust


About the Author:

Justin Horne is a meteorologist and reporter for KSAT 12 News. When severe weather rolls through, Justin will hop in the KSAT 12 Storm Chaser to safely bring you the latest weather conditions from across South Texas. On top of delivering an accurate forecast, Justin often reports on one of his favorite topics: Texas history.