Dust storm across Eastern China (afternoon overpass)

Visibility across much of northeastern China, including downtown Beijing, was reduced to 500 meters (1,600 feet) as a severe sandstorm swept southeastward out of the Gobi Desert on March 10, 2004. Residents who had to go outdoors were encouraged to wear masks to protect themselves from the choking effects of the dust and grit.

These true-color images were acquired on March 10, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra (morning) and Aqua (afternoon) satellites. The sandstorm, in the center of this scene, is the wall of tan to light brown streamers completely obscuring the surface and blowing toward the southeast.

Scientists suspect that such sandstorms originate in areas that have been deforested and over-grazed for decades, causing the region to become more arid and exposing the dry, loose soil to the elements.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published March 11, 2004
Data acquired March 10, 2004

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Collections:

MODIS Rapid Response

Visible Earth