A dust storm struck Iraq and neighboring countries this week. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua
satellite captured this natural-color image on January 8. A veil of
dust extended from northern Saudi Arabia toward the north and east.
Dust
plumes hovered over parts of Iraq, Iran, and the Persian Gulf. Dust
engulfed Kuwait, where the Meteorology Department warned residents to
expect high winds and low visibility.
Sand seas cover wide expanses of Saudi Arabia, and Iraq is rich in
fine sediments from rivers, marshes, and lakes. The fine particles
provide plentiful material for frequent dust storms.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument: Aqua - MODIS
