Impacts of Sand and Dust Storms on Oceans
A Scientific Environmental Assessment for Policy Makers
New Scientific Report – Impact of Sand and Dust Storms on Oceans. Each year, an estimated two billion tonnes of sand and dust is raised into the atmosphere; and one-quarter of this reaches the oceans. With the aim to help policy-makers in their efforts to tackle this widespread challenge, UNEP’s Science Division assessed the latest scientific knowledge on the impact of these large dust clouds on the oceans. A problem that affects the health of marine systems around the world and the well-being of the people that depend on them for their survival. Hence, on the 6th of November 2020, UNEP launched its report, titled Impacts of Sand and Dust Storms on Oceans: A Scientific Environmental Assessment for Policy Makers. It was authored by University of Oxford scientist Nick Middleton and reviewed by dozens of experts from around the globe. During the development of the report, UNEP received technical support from the GESAMP, the GPA and the GPNM. It was published within the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.
