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January 26, 2024 - Heavy Dust in Nigeria
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On January 24, 2025, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of dust blowing over northern Nigeria. The dust appears to rise from dry, desert area south of Lake Chad. Lake Chad is the green area in the northeast section of the image and sits on the border between Nigeria (southwest of the lake) and Chad (north). Dust also sweeps over part of the Yobe River, which flows into Lake Chad and forms part of the border between Nigeria (southeast) and Niger (northwest).
Dust storms can occur any time in this region, but are particularly frequent in the dry season, which runs from November to March. This is also the time of the harmattan—a desert wind that blows across the Sahara Desert from the northeast or east, usually as a result of a high-pressure system over the northwestern Sahara. Harmattan winds easily pick up dust, sweeping it long distances over West Africa.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 1/24/2024
Resolutions:
1km (206.5 KB), 500m (483.6 KB), 250m (908.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On January 24, 2025, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of dust blowing over northern Nigeria. The dust appears to rise from dry, desert area south of Lake Chad. Lake Chad is the green area in the northeast section of the image and sits on the border between Nigeria (southwest of the lake) and Chad (north). Dust also sweeps over part of the Yobe River, which flows into Lake Chad and forms part of the border between Nigeria (southeast) and Niger (northwest).
Dust storms can occur any time in this region, but are particularly frequent in the dry season, which runs from November to March. This is also the time of the harmattan—a desert wind that blows across the Sahara Desert from the northeast or east, usually as a result of a high-pressure system over the northwestern Sahara. Harmattan winds easily pick up dust, sweeping it long distances over West Africa.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 1/24/2024
Resolutions:
1km (206.5 KB), 500m (483.6 KB), 250m (908.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
