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Nature 424, 623-624 (7 August 2003) | doi:10.1038/424623a

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Atmospheric science: African dust in Florida clouds

Owen B. Toon

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Satellites and numerical models now track the intercontinental transport of airborne particles. Better knowledge of cloud physics will be necessary to gauge the effects on clouds and rainfall patterns.

If you live near a desert you expect to get dusty every now and again. Strong winds bounce sand grains across the desert surface, which in turn blast micrometre-sized particles into the air, where they blow downwind and eventually land on you.