Dust Storm over Aral Sea

Credit: Jeff Schmaltz; MODIS team; NASA, Posted on: Monday, 11 September 2006, 07:45 CDT Download full size image

Another dust storm struck the South Aral Sea on September 1, 2006. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA's Aqua satellite took a picture the same day. Although it produced less dramatic dust plumes than the June 13 storm, this storm covered both the eastern and western portions of the South Aral Sea.

Dry lakebed sediments provide ample material for dust storms, and that was probably the case in this storm. Although a dam designed to restore the North Aral Sea showed encouraging progress, the South Aral Sea remained surrounded by a dried-up lakebed, partially diminished by irrigation projects.

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