Switzerland enveloped in a veil of Sahara sand. The dust reached the exceptional quantity of 180,000 tonnes.
The Sahara releases between 60 and 200 million tonnes each year, most of which quickly falls to the ground. As it settles, this sand gives an orange tint to the snow. If this dust cannot scratch skis, it can, however, have an effect on melting, particularly that of glaciers. By reducing the reflective power of ice, dust facilitates the absorption of solar energy.