The Harmattan is a season in West Africa that occurs between late November and the middle of March. It is characterized by a dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind, of the same name, which blows from the Sahara over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. The temperature is cold usually at night but can be very hot in certain places during the day.
Ghana’s climate is characterized by tropical heat and high humidity. However, each year there is a period of a different climate, called Harmattan. Most of the time the Harmattan season starts around Christmas, it lasts for a few weeks till about the end of January and it coincides with Ghana’s dry season. The dry season starts in November and it lasts till March/April, then there is very little rain.
Etymology
The Harmattan originates in West Africa, particularly Ghana, and In 1671, Africans coined the word Harmattan, which relates to the word “haramata,” a Twi or Fante word. Haramata comes from “aherramantah,” a mix of two words aherraman and tar. Aherraman means “to blow” as in the blowing of the wind, and “tah” means “tallow” and refers to the grease that Africans rubbed on their skins to counteract the dry roughness that the weather brings. The word eventually turned into “haramata” and later became Harmattan.
Characteristics
The Harmattan is the dry, hot season of the Sahara desert, characterized by dry weather, little precipitation, and a strong northeasterly trade wind (a wind from east to west) bearing the same name. It is renowned for creating desert-like conditions. The Harmattan causes the arid climate of the Harmattan belt, which extends across Northern Africa and Southern Arabia.
The season is distinct from winter because it is characterized by chilly, dry, dust-laden wind and changes in indoor temperatures during the day and night. It is not chilly in all areas, but the temperature is scorching in some sections of the Sahara during the Harmattan season. When the wind blows, the air is dry and desiccating.
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The wind typically blows in the Sahara from late December until the middle of March, although it can extend considerably longer. It only blows for a few weeks at a time but often covers an area in a thick haze when it does. The wind is powerful enough to bend palm trees and makes walking along the street difficult without collecting dust on your clothes.
The elemental makeup of the Harmattan is entirely dominated by dust made of silicon. It can be so thick that it reduces solar radiation, diminishing its accompanying warmth and resulting in the associated chilly temperature.
Key Characteristics of the Harmattan Season:
- Dry weather
- Little precipitation
- Strong northeasterly trade winds
- Decrease of humidity
- Dispersion of cloud cover
- Suppression of rainfall
- Formation of enormous dust clouds
Direction and Places Affected
The Harmattan also crosses the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. It can also affect other parts of the world, such as the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The interaction between the Harmattan and the monsoon sometimes produces West African tornadoes.
The West African monsoon, which prevails during the Northern hemisphere summer (from June to September) is the alternation of the southwesterly wind and the Harmattan at the surface. During this time, dry, dusty northeasterly trade winds blow from the Sahara desert across West Africa to the Atlantic Ocean.
As the wind crosses the desert, it collects fine dust particles (0.5-10 μm) that cause low temperatures. When it is cold, the Harmattan can bring colder temperatures and snow. The Harmattan blows with a temperature reaching 130°F (55°C), and the air is hot and dry.
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Effects
The emergence of the Harmattan brings about a dramatic environmental change. Due to the difference in the weather and its impact on daily life, agriculture and transportation in the area, the Harmattan is sometimes called an environmental disaster.
The dry wind of the Harmattan season increases the risk of fires and can cause significant crop loss in all locations where the season is prevalent. The dust also becomes dangerous when it mixes with pollutants from solid-fuel stoves, emissions from outdated automobiles and industries, and open burning of garbage and bushfires for farming. Tornadoes can form when the Harmattan interacts with the monsoon winds.
During the Harmattan season many children of PCC have colds, which are triggered by the dust, these colds often go together with a tickling cough. The air can be so dry that the lips of the children and caregivers will swell and burst. Many heels will be chapped which is quite painful. Sometimes noses will bleed spontaneously.
From December to March North-Ghana experiences Harmattan season-the time when strong desert winds carry the sands from Sahel. It is the winter period in Ghana, with low humidity, hot days and cool nights. In the mornings one can experience a huge dust cloud and really chilly weather, most of the locals wear winter jackets and scarves or respirators as it would be really hard to travel anywhere without covering your nose and mouth.
Dust gets into everywhere and even tough most of common diseases such as cholera and malaria are not so prevailing this time due to the lack of water bodies, all sorts of cold and dust related diseases are pretty common this time. So yes people in Ghana can experience cough or stuffy nose.
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Harmattan is extremely dry season and most of the nature turns to yellow or orange, beside the huge mango trees, that start to blossom in the middle of that period and produce it`s fruits in early March. Dry season farming can be done only in small fenced areas with water availability close by.
There will be no millet, rice, corn or beans growing during that period and people have to get by with less food and water. Dry season farming mostly focuses on tomatoes and onions. In South-Ghana such extremes are not present and harmattan exposes itself there just for few weeks in January.
Even tough most of western kids have learnt at School about desertification local students in North have no clue why such kind of dusty weather occurs. I have been in many Schools to talk about soils and desertification and even tough there is a topic of soils and it`s protection in the National curriculum there is not much awareness about what actions cause desertification and how to fight for the lands to remain arable.
Health Effects
Saharan dust outbreaks cause an 8.4% increase in daily mortality, with cardiovascular effects predominating. Some people may get sudden nosebleeds if the humidity falls below 15%. It causes problems such as dry skin, chapped lips, dehydration, and the rare unexpected nosebleed. It also affects the respiratory system, causing breathing difficulty, aggravation of asthma, and easy transmission of respiratory diseases such as coughs, catarrh, and tuberculosis.
The season also causes an increase in cardiovascular diseases, leading to increased hospitalization and cerebrovascular accidents such as strokes and congestive cardiac failure, defining it as a season of concern for cardiologists. This season is hazardous for asthmatics since it might aggravate the condition. Meningitis outbreak in the dusty environment are dangerous, affecting the eyes and skin.
Health During Harmattan Pt.1 |Health Matters|
Harmattan Haze Effects
Harmattan haze is a phenomenon that occurs in various West African countries when there is a lot of dust in the air. It may significantly reduce visibility and cover the sun for several days, similar to thick fog. As the haze dissipates and the sky clears due to the excessive dryness of the air, trees begin to die. The Harmattan season also brings low humidity, with temperatures plummeting as low as 15% and impacting the health of many inhabitants.
Things to do During Harmattan Season
Here are some things you can do to protect yourself and keep your family safe during the Harmattan season.
- To avoid dehydration, drink lots of water.
- Regularly wash your eyes to avoid red eyes, which are frequent during harmattan. If your eyes are red, irritated, or runny, go to the clinic.
- When the air is dusty, use a mask or a cloth to cover your nose and mouth.
- Avoid or limit outdoor activities, particularly if you have allergies. Stay inside to prevent inhaling hazardous particles carried by the wind.
- If you have a runny, itchy, sneezing, or stuffy nose, get medical attention.
- Wear clothing that will keep you warm. Close the doors and windows.
- To avoid dry skin and dry palms, always apply moisturizers. Lip balm can help prevent cracked lips.
Harmattan Season Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Harmattan Season across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Harmattan Season, which is the hottest and most humid season on the African continent.
Complete List of Included Worksheets:
- Harmattan Season Facts
- Unscramble Me
- Staying Healthy
- 4 Pics 1 Word
- Reflection
- Dust Away
- Desert of the South
- The Poet
- The Harmattan Experience
- Wind Blows, Dust Goes
- Be Dust Ready
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the Harmattan season?
The main cause is dust in the air. The Harmattan is not only associated with low temperatures, but it also causes environmental pollution by the dust-laden northeast trade winds that blow across the Sahara Desert.
During what months is the Harmattan the strongest?
The Harmattan is a chilly, dry wind that blows from the northeast in the west Saharan region. It is most powerful from late November to mid-March. It can move hundreds of miles of dust across the Atlantic Ocean, which it frequently does; this dust frequently inhibits aircraft operations.
Why is it called the Harmattan?
The Harmattan is a wind that blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. It is a dusty and dry wind.
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