December 14, 2014 - Dust storms off the coast of Iran and Pakistan

Dust storms off the coast of Iran and Pakistan

This stunning true-color image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite as it passed over the Gulf of Oman on December 8, 2014.

The arid lands of Iran (northwest) and Pakistan (northeast) are colored in shades of brown, tan and bright cream with only the slightest hint of the dull greenish shade typical of sparse desert vegetation. Similar colors, with the addition of rust-tinted sand, can be seen in Oman. Wisps of creamy sand blow from desert terrain off the coast of both Iran and Pakistan and are blown southwest across the Gulf of Oman. The plumes expand and thin as they are blown further from the coastline.

Dust storms are a major natural hazard in both Iran and Pakistan, and dust frequently blows over the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Blowing dust is dangerous to the health of both livestock and humans, as it can be a powerful respiratory irritant as well as irritating to the nose and eyes.

Image Facts
Satellite: Terra
Date Acquired: 12/8/2014
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC