NASA has released images that reveal the dust layer of the Sahara dust storm as it moves across the ocean to the Americas. This is not a new phenomenon: dust has gravitated like this many times before. However, NASA notes that the blanket resulting from this particular dust storm has been “quite expansive.” Using the NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite, the space agency can give the public a detailed view of this event.
NASA uses a variety of satellites to monitor our planet, tracking everything from global groundwater resources to natural phenomena and transitory issues like forest fires, dust storms, and similar events. This year’s Saharan dust storm is no exception, as NASA uses its satellites to track the spread of the dust cloud across the ocean.
According to the space agency, the dust layer covered the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico on June 23 and 24; It was also entering South Texas at the time. As of June 24, the thickest parts of the dust column had expanded from covering 1,500 miles on June 18 to about 5,000 massive miles.
Although dust particles like those that are spreading could have a negative effect on human respiration, the event is not entirely bad. NASA notes that the particles scattered by the dust storm can also help build beaches and fertilize the earth. Furthermore, the widespread effects of the Sahara dust storm can help reduce intensity and even suppress tropical cyclones.
Atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Colin Seftor, the researcher who created the images, explained:
While the transportation of Saharan dust across the ocean to the Americas is not uncommon, the size and strength of this particular event are quite unusual. Also, if you look from the African coast you can see another big cloud coming out of the continent, which continues to feed the long chain of dust that travels across the Atlantic.
