A HUGE cloud of dust has traveled from Africa through the entire Atlantic Ocean and the surprising event has been revealed in a video.
Satellites watched the dust cloud as it unfolded and it is so large that it has been given the nickname Godzilla.
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Columns of dust are a natural phenomenon and occur every year as part of the Earth’s nutrient cycle.
They occur when high-speed winds carry small dry particles over long distances.
Most plumes are not as large as ‘Godzilla’ and generally only sink into the sea.
The European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel and Aeolus satellites tracked what could be the world’s largest dust cloud while en route to the United States.
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The right conditions can see the mass of dust particles transported to Earth’s upper troposphere.
This height can help a dust plume travel about 5,000 miles to the United States or the Caribbean.
ESA shared an animation of the event on YouTube.
He explained: “The Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission is dedicated to monitoring air pollution by measuring a multitude of trace gases and aerosols.
“This animation shows the spread of aerosols from the Sahara dust column moving west across the Atlantic Ocean from June 1 to June 26, 2020.
“This plume has reached the Caribbean, South America, and the United States.”
It’s quite common for dust feathers to make it to the U.S., but this one is particularly large.
It is believed to be approximately 70% larger than average.
It may seem a little scary, but the giant dust plume could be good news.
According to NOAA, columns like this can stop hurricanes from forming.
The powder is also nutritious for phytoplankton, small creatures that float on top of the ocean.
These creatures create oxygen and feed other marine animals.
Dust plumes can also provide much-needed nutrients to the Amazon rainforest.
They are also known to make sunsets particularly impressive.
However, plumes can be a health risk for some people with underlying health conditions and cause warnings about air quality.
Sahara desert – the key facts
This is what you need to know …
- The Sahara desert is one of the main deserts in Africa.
- It is the largest hot desert in the world, and the third largest after Antarctica and the Arctic.
- It spans a massive area of 3.6 million square miles, roughly the size of China or the US.
- The desert is notable for covering much of North Africa.
- Exceptions include fertile areas along the Mediterranean Sea coast, the Atlas Mountains, and the Nile Valley.
- The Sahara has been alternating between desert and grasslands for hundreds of thousands of years.
- At times, it has been a lush oasis with large bodies of water.
- This is linked to the rotation of the Earth around the Sun, which changes the location of the North African monsoon.
- The Sahara is expected to turn green again in 15,000 years.
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And, an epic lightning strike over Brazil has just been labeled the longest lightning bolt ever recorded.
What do you think of the huge dust cloud? Let us know in the comments …
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