Clouds of dust darkened the sky as winds swept across southeastern Iran in January 2025. Some of the desert dust was carried across the Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Peninsula, degrading air quality for those in its path.
The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this image of several dust plumes on January 22. The airborne material appears to primarily originate in the dried bed of the intermittent lake known as Hamun-e Jazmurian (Hamun-e Jaz Murian), while some may be blown from coastal areas. Along with arid regions such as the Garagum and Lut deserts and the Sistan Basin, the lakebed is a major source of dust in southwest Asia.
Precipitation is scant in the Jazmurian basin. Some parts receive less than 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain annually, on average, and evaporation rates are high. During wet times, however, an intermittent lake, marshlands, and other vegetation can cover parts of the basin. Terra’s MODIS sensor has previously captured images of the area when water is present in Hamun-e Jazmurian and when green vegetation fringes the lakebed.
In early 2025, the land was dry enough for winds to blow dust plumes south-southwest over the Gulf of Oman. Dust traveled across the water to the coast of the United Arab Emirates, where the haze reduced visibility in places, according to news reports.
In addition to disrupting transportation and other activities, the suspended particles in dust storms can have health effects. A recent analysis found that material transported by Jazmurian basin dust events contains heavy metals and other substances that may pose hazards to human and ecosystem health.
References & Resources
- Gulf News (2025, January 22) UAE weather alert: Dust and strong winds disrupt visibility, NCM issues warnings. Accessed January 24, 2025.
- MODIS Image Gallery (2022, January 27) Hamun-e Jaz Murian, Iran. Accessed January 24, 2025.
- Rashki, A., et al. (2017) Assessment of dust activity and dust-plume pathways over Jazmurian Basin, southeast Iran. Aeolian Research, 24, 145-160.
- Shirani, M., & Strezov, V. (2023) Heavy metal pollution levels and health risk assessment of dust storms in Jazmurian region, Iran. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1-10.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview . Story by Lindsey Doermann .
