Satellite images of Saharan dust storms leaving Africa

Two satellite images acquired in March 2004 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Terra satellite show large Saharan dust storms leaving Africa and moving over the Atlantic Ocean to cover downwind islands. A, Dust moving off the West African coast. Note Cape Verde Islands in lower left corner. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. B, Saharan dust storm moving over the Cape Verde Islands. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.