A dusty haze hung over the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Sea on June 30, 2007. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying on NASA’s Aqua satellite took this picture the same day. The dust does not form a discernible plume. Rather, it lends a buff-colored tint to the scene, particularly around the Horn of Africa. Due east from there, dust mingles with clouds.
The Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa rank among the world’s most prolific dust-producing regions. Dust activity typically increases when summertime Sun heats the desert surface and creates instability in the lowest layer of the atmosphere. This instability makes the lofting of dust particles into the air more likely.
NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response team.
