Which of the following winds are hot, dust-laden winds that blow from the Sahara Desert towards the Mediterranean region?

Introduction / Context:
World climatology assigns specific local names to characteristic winds in different regions. Some of these winds have distinctive temperature and moisture properties that make them important for weather and human comfort. This question focuses on a hot, dust-laden wind that blows from the Sahara Desert northwards towards the Mediterranean region. Knowing the correct name for this wind is a common requirement in geography and general knowledge examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question describes winds that are hot and carry dust, originating in the Sahara Desert and moving towards the Mediterranean.
• Four named winds are listed: Sirocco, Loo, Foehn and Mistral.
• We assume basic awareness of major named winds in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Concept / Approach:
The Sirocco is a well known hot, dusty wind that originates in the Sahara Desert and blows towards southern Europe across the Mediterranean, affecting countries like Italy and Greece. Loo is a hot, dry wind in northern India and Pakistan, Foehn is a warm, dry downslope wind in the Alps and other mountain ranges, and Mistral is a cold wind blowing from the interior of France towards the Mediterranean. By matching the description in the question to the correct wind, we identify Sirocco as the answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Sirocco (sometimes spelled Scirocco) is a hot, dry or humid wind that originates in the Sahara Desert and blows towards the Mediterranean region, often carrying dust and sand. Step 2: Understand that the Sirocco can cause uncomfortable weather in Mediterranean countries, reducing visibility and increasing temperatures. Step 3: Consider the Loo. It is a local hot and dry wind that blows over the northwestern plains of India and Pakistan during the hot weather season; it does not blow from the Sahara to the Mediterranean. Step 4: Consider the Foehn. It is a warm, dry, downslope wind observed on the leeward side of the Alps and other mountains, caused by adiabatic warming, not a dust-laden Sahara wind. Step 5: Consider the Mistral. It is a cold, dry wind that blows from the north through the Rhône valley in France towards the Mediterranean Sea, opposite in temperature character to the hot wind described in the question. Step 6: Since only Sirocco matches a hot, dust-laden wind blowing from the Sahara toward the Mediterranean, it is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Maps and tables of local winds in standard geography books often list Sirocco under “hot winds” affecting the Mediterranean basin, originating from the Sahara. They contrast it with Mistral, a cold wind, and with Foehn, a warm wind in the Alps, and with Loo, a hot wind in India. These references consistently pair Sirocco with dust transport from the Sahara, confirming the match with the description given in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Loo is a hot wind of the Indian subcontinent, not of the Sahara–Mediterranean region.
• Foehn is a warm downslope wind in mountainous regions like the Alps and is not necessarily dust-laden nor sourced from the Sahara Desert.
• Mistral is a cold wind from inland France towards the Mediterranean, opposite in temperature character to the hot Sirocco.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Sirocco and Mistral because both involve the Mediterranean region, without paying attention to temperature and source region. Another pitfall is to pick Loo simply because it is recognised as a hot wind, ignoring the fact that it is located in South Asia, not North Africa. The key to avoiding these mistakes is to link each named wind to its geographic origin, direction and temperature characteristics: Sirocco from the Sahara, Loo in India, Foehn in the Alps and Mistral as a cold wind in France.

Final Answer:
Sirocco