Dust storm and fires in Chad

In the south-central reaches of northern Africa's Sahara Desert, a dust storm is whipping up the sand (top center) and moving it southward over an already-struggling Lake Chad (left center edge). Regional water demands, and perhaps climate change, have shrunk the surface area of the lake dramatically, and sand dunes (tan striations) can be seen encroaching into the dense vegetation surrounding the small lake. Scattered fires (red dots) were detected as well in this true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image captured on October 31, 2002, by the Terra satellite.

---

Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published November 1, 2002
Data acquired October 31 - 31, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topics:

Atmosphere > Aerosols > Dust/Ash

Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Deserts

Biosphere > Terrestrial Habitat > Desert

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires