Images
February 10, 2021 - Saharan Dust Cloud over Europe
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On February 5, 2021, a shifting jet stream dipped southward towards Saharan Africa, creating strong winds that lofted massive amounts of sand and dust into the atmosphere. As the winds curved towards the north, the orange-tinted dust entrained with cloud and was carried more than 1,500 miles (2,414 km) northward to cover much of central Europe. Most of the dust rose from the Hautes Plaines region of Algeria and northeastern Morocco on February 5 where the intense start to the storm reduced visibility to about 800 meters (2,600 feet).
Photos emerged from many places showing otherworldly scenes of deep orange skies and orange-tinted snow. Stunning images of dust came from the high mountain town of Bettmeralp, Switzerland and a ski resort at Anzere, Switzerland. Dust settled on cars and buildings throughout the southern and central Europe, including Lyon, France and the Costa Blanca, Spain. Along with a warning for older people and those with respiratory problems to stay indoors due to increased risk to health, EuroWeekly also posted the following description, “Residents of the Costa Blanca woke up on Saturday morning, February 6, to a thick covering of orange-yellow dust over their cars, terraces and roads, as an African weather front brought tonnes of Saharan dust to the region overnight. Up and down the Calles, people could be heard sweeping and hosing down their properties from early morning, but this may be a futile effort, as the phenomenon is set to continue until early Monday morning, February 8.”
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the far-reaching Saharan dust storm on February 6. A river of dust rises from Africa, crosses the Mediterranean Sea, then appears to entrain with cloud to sweep across a vast area of Europe.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 2/6/2021
Resolutions:
1km (1 MB), 500m (3.4 MB), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On February 5, 2021, a shifting jet stream dipped southward towards Saharan Africa, creating strong winds that lofted massive amounts of sand and dust into the atmosphere. As the winds curved towards the north, the orange-tinted dust entrained with cloud and was carried more than 1,500 miles (2,414 km) northward to cover much of central Europe. Most of the dust rose from the Hautes Plaines region of Algeria and northeastern Morocco on February 5 where the intense start to the storm reduced visibility to about 800 meters (2,600 feet).
Photos emerged from many places showing otherworldly scenes of deep orange skies and orange-tinted snow. Stunning images of dust came from the high mountain town of Bettmeralp, Switzerland and a ski resort at Anzere, Switzerland. Dust settled on cars and buildings throughout the southern and central Europe, including Lyon, France and the Costa Blanca, Spain. Along with a warning for older people and those with respiratory problems to stay indoors due to increased risk to health, EuroWeekly also posted the following description, “Residents of the Costa Blanca woke up on Saturday morning, February 6, to a thick covering of orange-yellow dust over their cars, terraces and roads, as an African weather front brought tonnes of Saharan dust to the region overnight. Up and down the Calles, people could be heard sweeping and hosing down their properties from early morning, but this may be a futile effort, as the phenomenon is set to continue until early Monday morning, February 8.”
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of the far-reaching Saharan dust storm on February 6. A river of dust rises from Africa, crosses the Mediterranean Sea, then appears to entrain with cloud to sweep across a vast area of Europe.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 2/6/2021
Resolutions:
1km (1 MB), 500m (3.4 MB), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
