Dust Storm Viewed from Space
August 30, 2001
Provided by: NASA/GSFC, ORBIMAGE
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster
A wedge-shaped dust storm is seen on this SeaWiFS visible satellite image moving out of Africa (Libya) and into the Mediterranean Sea. This storm occurred on August 22, 2001 as a result of winds blowing across the Libyan Desert - the most arid portion of the Sahara Desert. Sicily is to the upper left, Greece to the upper right and Crete is at the right center. Note the arc of clouds apparently being pushed ahead of the dust. Dust emanating from Africa has been linked to the inception of tropical storms in the eastern Atlantic and to the health of coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. See also the Earth Science Picture of the Day for October 3, 2000 and April 24, 2001.
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