NASA satellite shows Saharan dust “escaping” into the Atlantic

NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured on Saturday (24) a large portion of dust from the Sahara Desert being transported from southern Morocco to the Atlantic Ocean . The image was produced with the help of VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite), equipment used by NASA to monitor the Earth’s surface and observe the effects on the planet.

The migration of sand from the Sahara to the sea is a common phenomenon, especially from the end of spring to the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere — equivalent to the period from the end of autumn to the beginning of spring in Brazil.

This year, dust currents managed to cross the Atlantic, reach the United States and cause changes in the skies over Texas.

It is not uncommon for desert dust to reach Europe and the United Kingdom, for example, depending on the winds. This is because this activity loses power from August onwards, which reduces the chances of a transoceanic trip.

According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the scientific community is interested in studying the influence of these Saharan dust clouds on the formation of storm systems, as they can inhibit the formation of cyclones when associated with dry air.

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This content was originally published in NASA satellite shows Sahara dust “escaping” to the Atlantic on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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