China Dust Storm

June 21, 2007

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Provided by: Richard Anstett, Lockheed Martin
Summary authors & editors: Richard Anstett

Northern China is famous for dust storms, and there have been some impressive dust events during the spring of 2007. China's geostationary weather satellite, Feng Yun 2C, provides hourly views of these storms. Its visible channels and two of its four infrared channels can be used to create multispectral images, which highlight dust in contrast to the bare ground. A visible image (above left) or infrared image (above middle) can show some dust features, but a multispectral false color combination of a visible channel, a single infrared channel and differences between the two infrared channels (above right) shows considerable more detail. This dust storm event (in tan) obscured most of the Taklimakan Desert. Dust often lingers here for days following storms since the desert lies within the Tarim Basin and is nearly completely enclosed (by the Tian Shan Mountains on the north, the Pamir Mountains on the west, and the Kunlun Mountains on the south). Click on images for a larger view.

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