When Saharan Dust Meets the Eastern Mediterranean: EFM Lab (UCY) Early Warning Science in CiROCCO Discover how the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of the University of Cyprus (EFM Lab, UCY) is leading CiROCCO's Cyprus pilot — building a real-time Desert Dust Storm early warning system for the municipality of Idalion and advancing the science of dust transport in the Eastern Mediterranean . Cyprus at the Crossroads of African and European Air Masses Cyprus occupies a uniquely exposed position in the atmospheric dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean. Situated between the African and Eurasian land masses, the island is subject to frequent intrusions of mineral dust transported from the Sahara and Arabian deserts — events that can dramatically elevate particulate matter concentrations, reduce visibility, and create significant public health and operational hazards. For the University of Cyprus (UCY), this exposure is not just a challenge — it is a scientific opportun...