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March 21, 2018 - Dust storms in Iran and Pakistan
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A massive dust storm poured over Iran and Pakistan in mid-March 2018. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the rolling clouds of dust on March 18.
Iran sits in the west in this image and Pakistan in the east. Banks of clouds in the north suggest that the dust was lofted by strong winds from an incoming storm. Dust storms are the most common natural hazard in this region, as hot and dry conditions, combined with even a light wind, can drive dust from arid, sandy land found in the interiors of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Dust has been frequent and heavy throughout the month. An article in the Daily Pakistan on March 13 reported that a huge sand storm hit Riyadh, making it look like “a post-apocalyptic movie” due to dust which covered everything and made it difficult for the capital to function. Schools and universities had suspended classes due to the extreme weather. Citizens were urged to take protective actions, including wearing masks to protect themselves from breathing the sand and dust.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/19/2018
Resolutions:
1km (75.4 KB), 500m (232.2 KB), 250m (567.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A massive dust storm poured over Iran and Pakistan in mid-March 2018. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the rolling clouds of dust on March 18.
Iran sits in the west in this image and Pakistan in the east. Banks of clouds in the north suggest that the dust was lofted by strong winds from an incoming storm. Dust storms are the most common natural hazard in this region, as hot and dry conditions, combined with even a light wind, can drive dust from arid, sandy land found in the interiors of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Dust has been frequent and heavy throughout the month. An article in the Daily Pakistan on March 13 reported that a huge sand storm hit Riyadh, making it look like “a post-apocalyptic movie” due to dust which covered everything and made it difficult for the capital to function. Schools and universities had suspended classes due to the extreme weather. Citizens were urged to take protective actions, including wearing masks to protect themselves from breathing the sand and dust.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/19/2018
Resolutions:
1km (75.4 KB), 500m (232.2 KB), 250m (567.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
