West Africaās Hazardous Winds: Harmattan Carries More Than Dust ā It Also Spreads Disease
BY CHRISTOPHE LAVAYSSE AND CHEIKH MODOU NOREYNI FALL Every year, from December to April, the Harmattan sweeps across Africa. This cool, dry and dust-laden wind gets its name from haramata, a word in the Ghanaian language Fanti. The wind originates from high-pressure systems over the Sahara, south of Algeria and Libya, and north of Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad. It significantly alters the climatic and environmental conditions of the region it crosses. The Harmattanās effects go beyond reduced visibility and dryness. It has an impact on human health , agriculture and ecosystems . Our research explores weather and climate hazards and their impacts on various sectors in west Africa, including dry and wet periods . In this article, we explain what the Harmattan is, its causes, when and how it occurs, and its impact on public health in affected regions. The origins of the Harmattan During the boreal (northern hemisphere) winter (October to March), large-scale components of atmospheri...
