How Continent-Sized Dust Storms Form

In 2020, a massive Saharan dust storm, nicknamed 'Godzilla', crossed the Atlantic, affecting air quality in the Caribbean and southeastern US. The storm was driven by unusually strong wind patterns: the African Easterly Jet, the North Atlantic Subtropical High, and the Caribbean Low Level Jet. These patterns, influenced by temperature gradients and pressure systems, combined to transport a large amount of dust across the ocean. Researchers are concerned that rising temperatures could make such events more frequent.

What nickname was given to the massive Saharan dust storm that affected the Caribbean and southeastern US?

• Hercules

• Godzilla

• Titan

• Zeus

Which wind pattern is primarily responsible for carrying dust from Africa across the Atlantic?

• Polar Jet Stream

• African Easterly Jet

• North Atlantic Drift

• Trade Winds

What factor made the African Easterly Jet stronger than usual during the Godzilla dust storm?

• A high-pressure system in northwest Africa

• Decreased desert temperatures

• A low-pressure system in the Gulf of Guinea

• Increased ocean temperatures

What is the North Atlantic Subtropical High (Nash) known for?

• Increasing ocean currents

• Creating high-pressure areas with clear skies

• Causing hurricanes in the Atlantic

• Bringing rain to the Sahara

Why are scientists concerned about future dust storms similar to the Godzilla event?

• Increasing desert rainfall

• Rising land temperatures

• Decreasing wind speeds

• Decreasing ocean temperatures