Arabian Peninsula Dust and Sand

March 09, 2003

S2003049082840_l1a_hbhr_omandust

Provided by:

  • NASA/GSFC, ORBIMAGE, SeaWiFS Project
    Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster; Norman Kuring

    The above SeaWiFS image was collected on February 18, 2003 and shows airborne dust and sand being pushed across the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea toward southern Pakistan and western India. The source area for these aerosols is the Ar Rub al Khali Desert of Oman and southern Saudi Arabia. Strong westerly winds are responsible for lifting the sand and dust and also effect the turbidity of the Persian Gulf (aquamarine color). Notice that much of the Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran are cloud free, which shouldn't be surprising since this region is extremely arid and experiences the highest frequency of dust storms anywhere in the world.

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