Suggested Searches

1 min read

Saharan Dust Over the Mediterranean Sea

Instruments:
Saharan Dust Over the Mediterranean Sea
March 27, 2004

Saharan dust is being swept north over Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to Sicily and Greece. Such storms are common as hot air over the vast African desert is pulled toward the cooler winter air in the north. The strong winds that result carry Saharan dust into the Mediterranean and across Europe. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this storm over Libya, right, and Tunisia, left, on March 27, 2004.

The high-resolution image provided above has a resolution of 500 meters per pixel. The image is available in additional resolutions, including MODIS’ maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel.

References & Resources

Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC

You may also be interested in:

Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.

Dust in the “Eye” of the Tarim Basin
3 min read

Satellites have observed episodes of dust swirling across the basin in western China for decades.

Article
A Winter Blanket Covers North Carolina
3 min read

In late January 2026, a strong, moisture-laden storm dropped snow across nearly the entire state, spanning from the Appalachians to…

Article
Winter Grips the Michigan Mitten
3 min read

A blanket of snow spanned Michigan and much of the Great Lakes region following a potent cold snap.

Article