Images
November 8, 2025 - Dust Over the Arabian Sea
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Heavy dust enveloped portions of the Arabian Sea in early November 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the wind-borne haze on November 5.
Strong northwesterly winds lifted copious amounts of sand and dust from dry desert regions of Iran and southern Pakistan beginning on November 3 and reached the Arabian Sea by the next day. By November 5, near-shore dust was so thick that the waters of the Strait of Hormuz as well as portions of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman were completely obscured from view. Dust continued to move southward over the Arabian Sea on November 6 and appeared to have mostly dissipated by November 7, according to satellite imagery.
Dust storms are a frequent natural hazard in this region. Fine mineral particles (dust and sand) are found in abundance across several arid regions of Iran and Pakistan as well as on the Arabian Peninsula. Strong, sweeping winds are also common and easily can pick up fine particles and transport them long distances.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 11/5/2025
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Heavy dust enveloped portions of the Arabian Sea in early November 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the wind-borne haze on November 5.
Strong northwesterly winds lifted copious amounts of sand and dust from dry desert regions of Iran and southern Pakistan beginning on November 3 and reached the Arabian Sea by the next day. By November 5, near-shore dust was so thick that the waters of the Strait of Hormuz as well as portions of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman were completely obscured from view. Dust continued to move southward over the Arabian Sea on November 6 and appeared to have mostly dissipated by November 7, according to satellite imagery.
Dust storms are a frequent natural hazard in this region. Fine mineral particles (dust and sand) are found in abundance across several arid regions of Iran and Pakistan as well as on the Arabian Peninsula. Strong, sweeping winds are also common and easily can pick up fine particles and transport them long distances.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 11/5/2025
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
