Dust in the Canary Islands
Island-by-island tracking of Saharan dust using CAMS mineral dust aerosol optical depth (AOD 550).
Dust outbreaks often raise PM10, reduce visibility and worsen respiratory symptoms. Here we expose that signal directly so it can add context to the map and station pages.
Current signal
Intense
El HierroDust AOD 550 nm 0.56
For sensitive people
Respiratory guidance during dust
Saharan dust is not pollen, but suspended dust can irritate the eyes, throat and airways. Use it together with the measured AQI and official alerts.
- Reduce intense outdoor exercise if cough, irritation or breathlessness appears.
- Keep windows closed during the peak and air rooms when the signal drops.
- If you have asthma, COPD or prescribed medication, follow your health plan.
Current island status
Intense dust detected
Current signal
El Hierro
- Dust AOD 550 nm
- 0.56 · Intense
- 24 h change
- Up 0.16 vs 24 h earlier
- Latest update
- Aug 1, 2026, 1:00 AM
Last 7 days
Average PM10 and AOD across the archipelago
Hourly average of measured PM10 from stations and island-level AOD over the last 7 days.
What this signal means
AOD measures how much radiation aerosols attenuate across the atmospheric column. It does not replace PM10 concentrations, but it helps tell when a particle spike is consistent with a large-scale Saharan dust intrusion.
As a reference: we consider dust light from an AOD of 0.18, moderate from 0.35 and intense above 0.55.
How to use it
Use it together with the AQI and measured pollutants. If dust is moderate or intense, consider reducing prolonged intense outdoor exercise if you feel discomfort, protecting eyes and airways, and keeping a closer eye on children, older adults and people with asthma or COPD.