The Harmattan is a season in West Africa, which occurs between the end of November and the middle of March. It is characterized by the dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind, of the same name, which blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.[1] The name is related to the word haramata in the Twi language.[2] The temperature is cold in most places, but can also be hot in certain places, depending on local circumstances.[3]
The Harmattan is a season in West Africa, which occurs between the end of November and the middle of March. It is characterized by the dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind, of the same name, which blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.[1] The name is related to the word haramata in the Twi language.[2] The temperature is cold in most places, but can also be hot in certain places, depending on local circumstances.[3]Harmattan haze surrounding Abuja National Mosque in Abuja
The Harmattan is a season in West Africa, which occurs between the end of November and the middle of March. It is characterized by the dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind, of the same name, which blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.[1] The name is related to the word haramata in the Twi language.[2] The temperature is cold in most places, but can also be hot in certain places, depending on local circumstances.[3]Harmattan haze surrounding Abuja National Mosque in AbujaThe Harmattan blows during the dry season, which occurs during the months with the lowest sun. In this season the subtropical ridge of high pressure stays over the central Sahara Desert and the low-pressure Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) stays over the Gulf of Guinea. On its passage over the Sahara, the harmattan picks up fine dust and sand particles (between 0.5 and 10 microns). It is also known as the "doctor wind", because of its invigorating dryness compared with humid tropical air.