Saharan dust off Western Africa

Dust storms from the Sahara Desert blow out over the Atlantic Ocean, obscuring the Cape Verde Islands, in these images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite captured during the summer and fall of 2002, as well as early 2003. Dust transport can have positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, it can bring minerals and nutrients from the soil to marine ecosystems. On the other hand, it can carry viruses and fungi that decimate corals as far away as the Caribbean.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published May 24, 2002
Data acquired May 18 - 18, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topics:

Atmosphere > Aerosols > Dust/Ash

Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Deserts

Biosphere > Terrestrial Habitat > Desert

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response