Large dust storms over Sudan, Lybia and the Middle East (13 May 2004)
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On 13 May 2004, Meteosat-8
observed five major dust storms within a satellite field of view of about
1200 x 900 pixels:one over Lybia, one over Iraq, one over Saudi Arabia, one
over Iran and several smaller ones over Sudan. The dust storms over Iraq and
Saudi Arabia are related to strong post-frontal north-westerly winds. This
situation, which typically persists for 24-36 hours and occurs 2-3 times a
month, is called Shamal (from the arabic for "north").
The dust storms over Sudan,
which appear very clearly in the IR12.0 - IR10.8 brightness temperature
difference image (which reached extreme values of up to +6 K), are probably
also related to the cold air outbreak from Eastern Europe to Northern Africa
and the Arabian Peninsula. These dust storms also severely affected the Darfur region in Sudan.
MSG, with its capability to observe wildfires
and dust storms in the whole area at a frequency of 15 minutes, plays an
essential role in helping the United Nations to coordinate their
humanitarian aid activities.
| Meteosat-8 Images |
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Met-8, 13 May 2004,109:00 UTC
Channel 09 (IR10.8)
Full Resolution (436 KB)
Animation (09:45-15:45 UTC, AVI, 24065 KB) |
Met-8, 13 May 2004, 10:00 UTC
Difference Image IR8.7 - IR10.8
Full Resolution (149 KB)
Animation 1 (09:45-15:45 UTC, AVI, 18800 KB)
Animation 2 (09:45-16:00 UTC, AVI, 10601 KB) |
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Met-8, 13 May 2004, 13:30 UTC
Difference Image IR12.0 - IR10.8
Full Resolution (231 KB) |
Met-8, 13 May 2004, 13:30 UTC
RGB Composite
IR12.0-IR10.8, IR10.8-IR8.7, IR10.8
Full Resolution (227 KB) |
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The MODIS RGB composite image below shows the dust storm from Western Iraq on the following day as it moved over the Gulf of Arabia.
| MODIS Image |
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MODIS, 14 May 2004, 07:00 UTC
RGB Composite (pixel size 1000 m)
Full Resolution (84 KB)
(courtesy NASA) |
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