Cancel

gear Push settings

bars

homehome Home chatchat Notifications


"Apocalyptic" Red Sun phenomenon in UK triggered by Hurricane Ophelia, forest fires, and dust from the Sahara

The red Sun is not dangerous, but the hurricane is!

Mihai Andrei
October 16, 2017 @ 4:43 pm

share Share

Unusually red-looking Sun sightings are being reported across the UK as darkness and sepia tones have taken over the country. The cause, meteorologists say, is a hurricane dragging in tropical dust from Sahara.

Image via Birmingham Updates / Facebook.

If you’d happen to be in many parts of the UK today, you’d likely be facing a desolate landscape. It’s dark, windy, raining in most parts, and the Sun looks like a creepy blood-red circle. This visual phenomenon is especially prevalent in the South West, West Midlands, North West and North East. It’s associated with Hurricane Ophelia, though in itself it’s no cause for concern.

What happened is that the gusts of air picked up dust and soil pieces from the Sahara and brought them along to the British islands; once in the air, these particles refract and reflect light, resulting in longer wavelengths, towards the reddish part of the spectrum. But that only tells half of the story — or even less. The Met Office said the “vast majority” of dust particles came from the massive forest firest suffered by Spain and Portugal earlier this year.

At this point, it’s not clear if the danger posed by Ophelia has passed.

While there’s no need to worry due to the red Sun, the hurricane itself is a completely different problem. Ireland’s west coast has been severely hit and at least one woman was killed after a tree fell on her car. Authorities have warned everyone in affected areas to remain indoors until the storm passes.

It’s uncommon for Atlantic hurricanes to head eastward, towards Britain. Hurricane Ophelia was the easternmost Atlantic major hurricane on record, already causing serious damage in Ireland and parts of the UK. With highest sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), it affected the Portuguese Azores Islands before moving north towards Britain.

 

share Share

Cats Came Bearing Gods: Religion and Trade Shaped the Rise of the Domestic Cat in Europe

Two groundbreaking studies challenge the old narrative that cats followed early farmers into Europe.

Tiny Chinese Satellite Sent Hack-Proof Quantum Messages 12,900 Kilometers Through Space. Is a Quantum Internet Around the Corner?

The US and Europe are now racing to catch up to China.

The People of Carthage Weren’t Who We Thought They Were

The Punic people had almost no genetic ties to Phoenicians, even though the latter founded the great city of Carthage.

RFK Jr loves raw milk. Now, he's suspending milk quality tests due to Trump cuts

Imagine pouring a glass of milk for your child and wondering if it’s safe.

A Roman gladiator died fighting a lion in England and his 1,800-year-old skeleton proves it

It's the first-ever evidence of man-lion combat found in the Roman period.

This Surprising Protein Shift Could Add Years to Your Life, Study Finds

A global study ties plant protein to longer adult lives, but early life needs differ.

Scientists Create a 'Power Bar' for Bees to Replace Pollen and Keep Colonies Alive Without Flowers

Researchers unveil a man-made “Power Bar” that could replace pollen for stressed honey bee colonies.

First-Ever Footage Captures a Living Colossal Squid—And It’s Just a Baby

A century after its discovery, the elusive giant finally reveals itself on camera.

Ancient tree rings reveal the hidden reason Rome’s grip on Britain failed

Three scorching summers in antiquity triggered revolt, invasion, and a turning point in British history.

Oxford Academics Used a Human Skull as a Wine Cup—Until 2015

It sounds like a scene from gothic fiction, but it’s real.