Dense clouds of Saharan dust spreading over Europe and Atlantic Ocean

Dense clouds of Saharan dust spreading over Europe and Atlantic Ocean

Earth-observing satellites are picking up two dense clouds of Saharan dust — one moving NE over the Mediterranean Sea into Europe and the other W over the Atlantic Ocean. The European cloud has already reached southern Spain, Corsica, and most of Italy and is…

Large Saharan dust cloud moving over the Atlantic Ocean

Large Saharan dust cloud moving over the Atlantic Ocean

A new large Saharan dust cloud is moving over the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to reach the Caribbean by the end of the week. The cloud will remain over the Caribbean until the end of the week and move toward the southeastern US early next week. Saharan dust…

Major outbreak of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) over Europe

Major outbreak of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) over Europe

A major outbreak of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) was reported over Europe, including France, Spain, Germany. NLCs over these latitudes are considered rare, according to night sky enthusiasts, as these clouds are typically seen over higher latitudes. Last week, NLCs…

Intense dust storms affecting Kuwait

Intense dust storms affecting Kuwait

Intense dust storms are affecting Kuwait since June 10, 2021, significantly reducing visibility and causing severe traffic chaos. The meteorological department said strong winds, dust storms, and heat can be expected at least until June 20. Intense dust storms are…

Large cloud of Saharan dust reaches the Caribbean and South America

Large cloud of Saharan dust reaches the Caribbean and South America

A large cloud of Saharan dust moving across the Atlantic Ocean over the past week has reached the Caribbean and South America. The dust will remain over the region for the next couple of days, limiting visibility and lowering air quality. After that, it's…

NLC seasons getting longer, clouds moving farther south

NLC seasons getting longer, clouds moving farther south

New data provided by NASA's AIM (Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere) satellite mission shows that the first noctilucent clouds (NLCs) of summer have been trending earlier since 2007, when the spacecraft was launched. Each year, NLCs first appear in the Arctic and…

2021 noctilucent clouds (NLC) season starts earlier than expected

2021 noctilucent clouds (NLC) season starts earlier than expected

Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) have been spotted over Poland, Czech Republic, Canada, and Scotland, among other countries, on May 25 and 26, marking an early start to the northern hemisphere's 2021 NLC season. The clouds are rapidly intensifying. In only four days…

Deadly dust storms hit Karachi, Pakistan

Deadly dust storms hit Karachi, Pakistan

Severe dust storms and heavy rains struck parts of Karachi, Pakistan, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, resulting in at least four fatalities and damaged properties. The storms came amid a severe heat spell in the city and the onslaught of Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm…

Observations reveal lightning as the source of extreme air-cleaning oxidants

Observations reveal lightning as the source of extreme air-cleaning oxidants

Observations from NASA's storm-chasing aircraft DC-8 reveal that lightning can produce extremely high concentrations of two major oxidants that help clear the air and the atmosphere. In May and June 2012, the DC-8 jet flew through the eye of thunderstorms over…