Harmattan

Harmattan
The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West
African trade wind. This northeasterly wind
blows from the Sahara into the Gulf of
Guinea between the end of November and
the middle of March (winter). The
temperatures can be as low as 3 degrees
Celsius. The name comes from or is related
to an Akan cognate.
On its passage over the desert it picks up
fine dust particles (between 0.5 and 10
micrometres).

Effects
Harmattan haze surrounding Abuja National Mosque in Abuja, Nigeria.
In some countries in West Africa, the heavy
amount of dust in the air can severely limit
visibility and block the sun for several days, comparable to a heavy fog. It can even break the trunk of the pine trees,
growing in that region, through their dryness. The effect caused by the dust and sand stirred by these winds is known
as the Harmattan haze, which costs airlines millions of dollars in cancelled and diverted flights each year,[1] and risks
public health by increasing meningitis cases. The interaction of the Harmattan with monsoon winds can cause
tornadoes. Humidity drops to as low as 15 percent and can result in spontaneous nosebleeds for some. The wind can
cause severe crop damage.

References
[1] This Day: Nigerian Civil Aviation warns pilots, airlines of Harmattan haze (http:/ / allafrica. com/ stories/ 201301150511. html)

Ikekeonwu, Clara (2007). The phonetics of Nigerian languages. Munich: Lincom Europa. p.62.

External links

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Harmattan". Encyclopdia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press
http://www.africawild.net/wild-facts/harmattan-the-west-african-winter

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Harmattan Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=579644639 Contributors: Altenmann, BigswellG, Bob Burkhardt, Brookie, Dogposter, Dunhere, Egil, Enzino, EricTheRed,
Gdcox, Gdr, Gene Nygaard, Grutness, Haakon, IanJExley, Jodosma, Joehastings, Julius Sahara, Kaarel, Lectonar, Mani1, Mgumn, Mloafness, Muhends, Mvelskoen, Namiba, Numbersinstitute,
Oliveco, Omnipaedista, PBS-AWB, PGundlach, Pauloeagleton, Pgavrilov, Picaroon, PotatoSamurai, Riki, Rneubig, Salleman, WikiHannibal, Xiaphias, 56 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

Image:MosqueinAbuja.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:MosqueinAbuja.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors: Kipp Jones from
Atlanta, US
File:Wikisource-logo.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wikisource-logo.svg License: logo Contributors: Guillom, INeverCry, Jarekt, Leyo, MichaelMaggs, NielsF,
Rei-artur, Rocket000

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/