Satellites Track Massive “Godzilla” Saharan Dust Plume

Aerosols From Saharan Dust Plume

The Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission is dedicated to monitoring air pollution by measuring a multitude of trace gases as well as aerosols. This image shows the spread of aerosols from the Saharan dust plume moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean on June 19, 2020. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Every summer, the wind carries large amounts of desert dust particles from the hot and dry Sahara Desert in northern Africa across the Atlantic Ocean. Data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites and ESA’s Aeolus satellite show the extent of this year’s summer dust plume, dubbed ‘Godzilla,’ on its journey across the Atlantic.

This Saharan dust storm is also known as the Saharan Air Layer, which typically forms between late spring and early autumn, peaking in late June to mid-August. Large amounts of dust particles from the African desert are swept up into the dry air by strong winds near the ground, as well as thunderstorms. The dust can then float for days, or weeks, depending on how dry, fast and turbulent the air masses become. Winds in the higher troposphere then sweep the dust across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Caribbean and the United States.

Although this meteorological phenomenon occurs every year, the June 2020 plume is said to be unusual owing to its size and the distance traveled. According to NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, the dust plume was around 60—70% dustier than an average outbreak – making it the dustiest event since records began around 20 years ago.


This animation shows the spread of aerosols from the Saharan dust plume moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean from June 1 to June 26, 2020. This plume has reached the Caribbean, South America, and the United States.

The animation above shows the spread of aerosols from the Saharan dust plumes moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean from 1 June to 26 June 2020. Normally, Saharan dust plumes disperse in the atmosphere and sink into the Atlantic before reaching the Americas. However this year, the dense concentration of dust traveled approximately 8000 km and can be seen arriving near the Caribbean and the southern United States.

The composite image below shows combined observations from the Aeolus satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite on 19 June 2020. The underlying Sentinel-5P aerosol index in fluorescent yellow and green, which indicates the extent of the elevated Saharan dust plume over the Atlantic, has been overlaid with Aeolus’ aerosol and cloud information.

Desert Dust Plume Over Atlantic

This composite image shows combined observations from the Aeolus satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite on June 19, 2020. The underlying Sentinel-5P aerosol index in fluorescent yellow and green, which indicates the extent of the elevated Saharan dust plume over the Atlantic, has been overlaid with information from Aeolus’ aerosol and cloud data. In yellow, parts of the laser light are scattered and absorbed by the Saharan dust. Credit: Contains Copernicus and Aeolus data (2020), visualized with VirES

Aeolus data provides valuable information regarding the altitude and vertical extent of the aerosol layer, compared to downward-looking imagers, as it can determine the height at which the dust layer is traveling. Aeolus data in this image indicates that most of the dust was 3—6 km above the ground.

These data are extremely important for air-quality models used by, for example, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, to predict how far the dust layer will travel and how it develops and therefore the effects it will have locally.

Different satellites carry individual instruments that provide us with a wealth of complementary information. While the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite maps a multitude of air pollutants around the globe, Aeolus is the first satellite mission to acquire profiles of Earth’s wind on a global scale. As shown here, Aeolus also delivers information about the vertical distribution of aerosol and cloud layers. This combination of satellite data allow scientists to improve their understanding of the Saharan Air Layer, and allows forecasters to provide better air quality predictions.

The images below, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 missions, show the dust particles over Cabo Verde, Boa Vista, Cuba and Sao Filipe.

Dust Particles Over Cabo Verde

In this image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission, dust particles can be seen over Cabo Verde on June 20, 2020. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Dust Particles Over Boa Vista

In this image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, dust particles can be seen over Boa Vista on June 17, 2020. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Dust Particles Over Cuba

In this image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission, dust particles can be seen over Cuba on June 23, 2020. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Dust Particles Over Sao Filipe

In this image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, dust particles can be seen over Sao Filipe on June 20, 2020. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

While the dust poses a threat for our health, causing hazy skies and triggering air quality alerts, the traveling Saharan dust plays an important role in our ecosystem. The dust is a major source of nutrients which are essential for phytoplankton – microscopic marine plants that drift on or near the surface of the ocean. Some of the minerals from the dust falls into the ocean, triggering blooms of phytoplankton to form on the ocean surface, which in turn provides food on which other marine life depends.

The dust is also essential for life in the Amazon. It replenishes nutrients in rainforest soils – nutrients that would otherwise be depleted by frequent rainfall in this tropical region.

The dry and dusty air layers have also been shown to suppress the development of hurricanes and storms in the Atlantic. Tropical storms need warm ocean waters and warm humid air in order to form. If a storm were to develop, it would collide with the dusty and dry layers of air of the Saharan dust cloud, preventing it from growing further.

11 Comments on "Satellites Track Massive “Godzilla” Saharan Dust Plume"

  1. Dust clouds may contain high concentrations of organics composed of plant detritus and microorganisms (80, 108) and may pick up additional biological loads (fungal spores, bacteria, viruses, and pollen, etc.) as the clouds move through and sandblast downwind terrestrial environments and/or over aquatic environments through the adhesion of microbe-laden fine aquatic sprays to dust particles. THIS, along with reckless spring breakers are what caused Floridas spike in COVID-19. Stop blaming our wonderful governor because he’s been opening up the state in safe stages. The Saharan Dust is gone & college kids can stay out of the state!

    • “I’m sorry, S.H,D, but you’ve crossed the threshold. I’m afraid to say, you’re not allowed science any more you no longer have a say in things where science is involved.
      Because you haven’t paid science enough attention. You’ve had the opportunity to read the facts and the education to be able to analyse them, yet you have consistently chosen not to.
      It’s not the lack of ability, S.H.D, it’s the fact that you’re proud of it.

  2. Coronavirus can last in the air for 3 hours. It can survive longer on surfaces: Copper-4 hours. Cardboard-24 hours. The longest: Steel & Plastic for 3 days. Even if you scrapped the aerosolized max of 3 hours that applies here and chose a random surface time, it still couldn’t make it.
    Also, your governor is the one who let the spring-breakers come in.

  3. Also, I feel terrible leaving a Covid rant on this awesome Scientific article. Great images and info! Thanks guys, keep it up!

  4. I think definitely need evidence about delivery any viruses by sand

  5. WOW, I guess the Russian/Trump electing team are covering all bases. Even the one they don’t believe in… SCIENTIFIC FACTS!

  6. Didn’t this already happen like 2 weeks ago? Its July 10 and this story is all about the storm we had in June.

  7. So how long will it last this year?

  8. Another massive dust cloud will arrive in Texas July 16…this can continue through the Fall. Wildlife cannot wear masks but humans can. Sadly this dust will increase drought in already dry areas.

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