U.S. Air Quality

Sahara Desert Dust over Caribbean

Since last Thursday, Sahara desert dust has covered the Caribbean. Affecting the visibility and leading to health advisories for those who suffer from respiratory illnesses. Evidence and the area of coverage of this Sahara dust cloud was recorded by the lidar on the CALIPSO satellite (top images). High AOD was measured by MODIS Terra over the region where the lidar backscattering signal was greater over the Caribbean.

Below is a picture of the skyline south of the International Airport Luis Munoz Marin in Carolina, Puerto Rico.