Images related to Empty Quarter, Arabian Peninsula

Ar Rub’ al Khali Sand Sea, Arabian Peninsula
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Ar Rub’ al Khali Sand Sea, Arabian Peninsula

The Ar Rub’ al Khali, or Empty Quarter, covers much of the south-central portion of the Arabian Peninsula and is the largest continuous sand desert on Earth.

Published May 30, 2011

Image of the Day Land

Dust over the Arabian Peninsula
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Dust over the Arabian Peninsula

A dust plume spans hundreds of kilometers over the Arabian Peninsula in this natural-color image from late February 2012.

Published Mar 2, 2012

Atmosphere Land Dust and Haze

Sandscapes of the Namib Desert
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Sandscapes of the Namib Desert

Sand dunes and outcrops add color and dimension across the Namib Sand Sea.

Published Jan 13, 2020

Image of the Day Land Remote Sensing

Sand Dunes, Marzuq Sand Sea, Southwest Libya
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Sand Dunes, Marzuq Sand Sea, Southwest Libya

This astronaut photograph shows classic large and small sand masses of the central Sahara Desert, where wind is a more powerful land-shaping agent than water.

Published Jan 19, 2009

Image of the Day Land

Rain Soaks the Empty Quarter
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Rain Soaks the Empty Quarter

Rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mekunu dropped enough rain over the Arabian Peninsula to form lakes between the sand dunes in the Rub’ al-Khali.

Published Jun 15, 2018

Image of the Day Heat Land Water Unique Imagery Remote Sensing

Sand Sea Margin, Namib Desert
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Sand Sea Margin, Namib Desert

In a land with little water, the wind does the landscaping most of the time. Ephemeral water leaves a mark, though.

Published Jul 29, 2018

Image of the Day Heat Land

Beating Back the Sands in Isatay
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Beating Back the Sands in Isatay

Despite efforts by local officials, the desert continues its advance.

Published Feb 19, 2017

Image of the Day Land Human Presence Snow and Ice

Linear Dunes, Great Sand Sea, Egypt
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Linear Dunes, Great Sand Sea, Egypt

Winds shape the sands that were left behind by an ancient river.

Published Jun 4, 2012

Image of the Day Land

Empty Quarter
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Empty Quarter

Published Aug 31, 2008

Image of the Day Land

Dust over the Arabian Peninsula
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Dust over the Arabian Peninsula

On February 3, 2012, one day after blowing over the Persian Gulf, sand from the Arabian Peninsula blew over parts of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Published Feb 6, 2012

Atmosphere Land Dust and Haze

Dust Storm over Saudi Arabia
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Dust Storm over Saudi Arabia

Published Oct 22, 2004

Dust and Haze

Ad Dahna Sand Cordon, Saudi Arabia
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Ad Dahna Sand Cordon, Saudi Arabia

Astronauts have obtained thousands of detailed images of the world’s remote deserts, helping scientists better understand local geomorphological features in a regional context. Driven by northwesterly winds, sands from northwest Saudi Arabia have accumulated in the center of the country as great rivers of dunes (cordons) that extend for hundreds of kilometers. About 320 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, the steep, almost cliff-like margin of the Ad Dahna cordon casts a shadow (right center; diagonally across the scene). Two types of dune surface appear: the tracery of numerous linear dunes (center) and a featureless sand sheet (lower left). Dark, older rocks (30-65 million years old—top right) underlie the sand sea and crop out northeast of the cordon. Convergent dry river beds appear top right.

Published Sep 27, 2004

Image of the Day Land

Where the Dunes End
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Where the Dunes End

Namibia’s sea of sand is bounded on its northern side by the impermanent Kuiseb River.

Published Jan 2, 2020

Image of the Day Land

The Great Sand Sea
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The Great Sand Sea

Published May 29, 2003

Dust and Haze

Dardzha Peninsula
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Dardzha Peninsula

Sand meets the Caspian Sea in western Turkmenistan, where giant dunes are partially submerged.

Published May 27, 2012

Image of the Day Land