Dust over Syria, Iran and Iraq

The dust that blew over Syria and Iraq on June 18, 2012, continued its southeastward journey the following day. On June 19, the dust had spread to western Iran and the Persian Gulf.

By the time MODIS acquired this image below, the satellite sensor could barely detect Buhayrat ath Tharthar or large stretches of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Fine sediments around these water bodies are frequently stirred up by dust storms. A network of temporary rivers in northern Iraq and Syria also provide material for dust plumes.

Arid regions like Syria and Iraq often experience severe daytime heat. This causes air near the ground to become unstable, enabling even light winds to loft dust particles into the air. The Weather Channel forecast temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) for Baghdad in late June 2012, which suggests that dust activity might continue. (EarthObservatory)