February 20, 2016
On February 20, 2016, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of dust streaming across eastern Iraq and western Iran. There is some evidence that dust storms driven by northwest (Shamal) winds have become more common in this region during the past decade due to a long-term drought that has parched key wetlands.
References & Resources
- Sissakian, V. et al. (2013) Sand and dust storms events in Iraq. Scientific Research, 5 (10).
- Zoljooodi, M. et al. (2013) Dust Events in the Western Parts of Iran and the Relationship with Drought Expansion over the Dust-Source Areas in Iraq and Syria. Scientific Research, 3 (3).
NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response . Caption by Adam Voiland.
