MSGID: 1:317/3 645bdbad
PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08
May 10, 2023 - Dust in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan

   Dust in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
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   On May 9, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
   (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of a
   spring dust storm streaming across Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

   The dust storm begins in arid Afghanistan west of the snow-capped Hindu
   Kush mountains, blows westward and then curls slightly northwestward
   over the sand-filled Mary region of Turkmenistan, where additional dust
   likely is swept into the storm. The path of the dust roughly parallels
   the Amu Darya River, which shows green along its banks.

   This region of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan is extremely arid and rich
   in fine sand, especially in the dune fields south of the Amu Darya
   River. In springtime, a short growing season spurs a burst of green,
   thanks to the short season when rain appears and encourages growth of
   desert sedges, grasses, shrubs, and groves of wild pistachio trees.
   Much of the 200 to 240 millimeters (8 to 9 inches) of rain the area
   receives each year falls between February and May; a prolonged period
   of dry weather typically sets in by June.

   Dust storms are a frequent natural hazard in both countries and can
   occur at any time of the year. They are especially frequent in spring,
   when cold air masses moving from the north often clash with intrusions
   of warm tropical air from the south, creating unsettled weather
   patterns which can produce strong, gusty winds. These winds easily lift
   the loose, widespread sand into the air to create sudden dust storms.

   Image Facts
   Satellite:  Aqua
   Date Acquired: 5/9/2023
   Resolutions:  1km (1.3 MB),  500m (3.6 MB),  250m (6.4 MB)
   Bands Used: 1,4,3
   Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC



https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-05-10
 
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