Red Sea Dust Storm

Credit: Jeff Schmaltz; MODIS team; NASA, Posted on: Tuesday, 28 June 2005, 06:29 CDT Download full size image

A dust storm swept over the Red Sea on June 21, 2005, and the Aqua MODIS instrument captured this image the same day. Dust obscured the instrument's view of the Red Sea and the neighboring countries: Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia to the west, and Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the East. The Dahlak Archipelago is partially visible underneath the dust; more information about this unique set of islands can be found here.

Most of Earth’s dust storms arise in a few regions, including the Sahara and the Middle East. As desertification spreads, dust storms are likely to follow. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment has just released its Desertification Synthesis. The report predicts that the planet’s dry regions will spread and the land responds to increased human pressure from poor crop management and irrigation misuse.

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