Images
June 13, 2024 - Northern Africa Spews Dust Everywhere
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Southwesterly winds kicked up massive waves of Saharan dust in early June 2024, creating dusty skies not only across northern Africa, but also over the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of a long plume of dust stretching over the Atlantic Ocean on June 10. At that time, the streaming dust measured more than 1,800 miles (2,900 km) in length and was thinning as it approached the Caribbean Islands.
This image is a mosaic, in which data from multiple passes of the satellite are stitched together to show a broad image over time. The black areas are an artifact where data is missing as the MODIS instrument flew over the curvature of the Earth. Long silver-toned lines roughly parallel to the blank areas are another artifact. Called “sun glint”, the glare is an optical phenomenon created when light reflects directly back at the sensor.
While this plume of dust is impressive, it doesn’t capture all of the Saharan dust that was on the move. The NASA Worldview App offers a wider view of the spectacular dust event. To view the entire scene, click here.
Dust can be seen blowing across much of the tan-colored desert regions of Africa north of the clouds that cover the Sahel. There is haze visible in Central Africa, but that appears gray-toned and is mostly likely smoke from agricultural fires. Looking northward, dust blows across the Mediterranean Sea to reach both Greece and Bulgaria. To the east, a tan haze covers the Red Sea as Saharan Dust reaches Saudi Arabia.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/10/2024
Resolutions:
500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Southwesterly winds kicked up massive waves of Saharan dust in early June 2024, creating dusty skies not only across northern Africa, but also over the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of a long plume of dust stretching over the Atlantic Ocean on June 10. At that time, the streaming dust measured more than 1,800 miles (2,900 km) in length and was thinning as it approached the Caribbean Islands.
This image is a mosaic, in which data from multiple passes of the satellite are stitched together to show a broad image over time. The black areas are an artifact where data is missing as the MODIS instrument flew over the curvature of the Earth. Long silver-toned lines roughly parallel to the blank areas are another artifact. Called “sun glint”, the glare is an optical phenomenon created when light reflects directly back at the sensor.
While this plume of dust is impressive, it doesn’t capture all of the Saharan dust that was on the move. The NASA Worldview App offers a wider view of the spectacular dust event. To view the entire scene, click here.
Dust can be seen blowing across much of the tan-colored desert regions of Africa north of the clouds that cover the Sahel. There is haze visible in Central Africa, but that appears gray-toned and is mostly likely smoke from agricultural fires. Looking northward, dust blows across the Mediterranean Sea to reach both Greece and Bulgaria. To the east, a tan haze covers the Red Sea as Saharan Dust reaches Saudi Arabia.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/10/2024
Resolutions:
500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
