Trade winds are carrying the plume across the ocean, with the leading edge expected to arrive in Florida in the coming days.
Prospero pioneered research into African dust clouds.
Dry winds carrying the particles could help smother storm systems by drying out the humid tropical air that feeds turbulent weather across a well-traveled route for hurricanes, experts said.WOFL reports that winds last summer carried nearly 24 tons (22 metric tons) of dust from the Sahara Desert across the Atlantic to North and South America.