What is Saharan Air Layer (SAL)?

The Saharan Air Layer is like a giant hot blanket that travels from the Sahara Desert all the way to other places, sometimes even to where you live.

Imagine it's a really hot day, and you're wearing a thick, warm jacket. That jacket keeps you from feeling the cool breeze outside. The Saharan Air Layer works kind of like that jacket, but for the air! It’s a layer of very hot and dry air that floats high up in the sky, coming all the way from the Sahara Desert.

Think of it like a big, invisible truck full of hot air. This truck starts in the Sahara and rolls across the Atlantic Ocean, sometimes even reaching places like Florida or Brazil. When this Saharan Air Layer gets to where you are, it can make the weather feel hotter and drier than usual, kind of like when you step outside on a hot day after being inside a cool room.

This hot layer can also push away clouds, which means less rain. So sometimes, when it's sunny for days on end, that might be because of the Saharan Air Layer doing its job, keeping things warm and dry!