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September 2, 2024 - Dust over Afghanistan
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A ferocious dust storm swept across parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in late August 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of moving dust on August 29.
Most of the dust appears to rise from the Hamoun Wetlands, which is the pale area in the west (left) section of the image. Several extremely dense, textured plumes of dust first appear in that location then stream southeast before swirling to the northeast, where the dust becomes thinner.
The Hamoun Wetlands straddle the borders of Iran (west), Afghanistan (east), and Pakistan (southeast). They once were a large oasis, bringing refreshing and life-giving water to an otherwise parched and arid landscape of Central Asia. Drought and irrigation drained the wetlands, leaving behind only a tiny damp remnant surrounded by expansive dried lakebeds filled with dust. Dust storms have become the primary natural hazard in the region, especially in the spring and summer months with strong winds are common.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 8/29/2024
Resolutions:
1km (71 KB), 500m (174.7 KB), 250m (264.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A ferocious dust storm swept across parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in late August 2024. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of moving dust on August 29.
Most of the dust appears to rise from the Hamoun Wetlands, which is the pale area in the west (left) section of the image. Several extremely dense, textured plumes of dust first appear in that location then stream southeast before swirling to the northeast, where the dust becomes thinner.
The Hamoun Wetlands straddle the borders of Iran (west), Afghanistan (east), and Pakistan (southeast). They once were a large oasis, bringing refreshing and life-giving water to an otherwise parched and arid landscape of Central Asia. Drought and irrigation drained the wetlands, leaving behind only a tiny damp remnant surrounded by expansive dried lakebeds filled with dust. Dust storms have become the primary natural hazard in the region, especially in the spring and summer months with strong winds are common.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 8/29/2024
Resolutions:
1km (71 KB), 500m (174.7 KB), 250m (264.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
