Saharan Dust Plume over the Atlantic

Saharan Dust Plume over the Atlantic

A sinuous river of dust snakes out over the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa in this true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image captured by the Terra satellite on December 13, 2003. Over subsequent days, the plume began a westward track across the Atlantic.

The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at additional spatial resolutions, including MODIS’ maximum resolution of 250 meters.

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC