A perfect example of why the satellite and the sensor map belong together
On 21 October the satellite showed a dense dust cloud right next to Cyprus, while residents' sensors showed clean air at street level. The satellite is the warning; the sensor on your balcony is the answer.
On 21 October the satellite dust layer on sensors.social lit up: a dense cloud over Lebanon and Syria, right next to Cyprus. At the same moment, residents’ sensors across the island showed clean air at street level. Both were right, and that is exactly why they belong on one map.
The satellite is a warning, not a verdict
The satellite sees the whole column of air, from the ground up to the clouds. On 21 October the wind carried the dust toward the island high above it, mostly over the east coast. Down on the balconies the air stayed clean, from Protaras in the east to Limassol in the south.
This is how dust days often begin. A cloud on the satellite layer does not always reach the ground: sometimes it passes over, sometimes it settles within hours. No forecast can tell in advance which one it will be.
The sensor on your balcony is the answer
So the satellite layer works best as a signal: today is a day to watch. When dust comes down, the sensor on your balcony, or your neighbour’s, shows it first, minute by minute, long before a daily average would.
On a day like this:
- Turn on the Satellite dust and Wind layers. A cloud near the coast and wind toward the island means a day to watch.
- Open the sensor nearest to you. The Day view shows how the air changes hour by hour.
- Switch to Week. It shows whether today is unusual for your street.
- If the line starts to climb, close the windows and switch on the purifier. You will know when to act, without worrying all day.
Why this matters for dust regions
Cyprus, the Middle East, North Africa and southern Europe all live with dust events. The satellite gives a hint days ahead; a dense network of home sensors gives the moment it arrives where people live. Neither is enough on its own. Together they turn a vague warning into a clear answer for your own street.