Large sandstorm in Sudan
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite captured this true-color image of a massive sand storm in central Sudan on June 20, 2017 (top), compared to June 19. The central and the northern part of Sudan feature extremely dry desert areas with frequent sandstorms, known as haboob, which can completely block out the sun. VIIRS provides global coverage twice a day with 750 m resolution across its entire scan -- twice the coverage of its predecessors (such as the AVHRR that flew aboard NOAA's earlier polar-orbiting spacecraft) and its daily multi-band imaging capabilities support the acquisition of high-resolution atmospheric imagery and other instrument products, including visible and infrared imaging of hurricanes, atmospheric aerosols, detection of fires and smoke and, as shown here, land surface conditions.
HiRes Image
Courtesy of NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory
