July 13, 2023 - Dust and Salt off Coast of Nambia

Dust and Salt off the Coast of Namibia
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Fierce winds drove sheets of dust from the Namib Desert over the South
Atlantic Ocean in mid-July 2023.

On July 11, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image, winds
were particularly strong. Not only were they carrying widespread and
thick tongues dust, but a broad plume of minerals (primarily salt) was
lofted from the Etosha Pan and carried to the Atlantic Coast.

On that same day, a post on the Namibia Weather Forecast Facebook page
described the scene in Walvis Bay, which is a coastal city located on
the Kuiseb River delta just north of the orange sands of the Namib
Desert. The post read, in part, “morning in Walvis Bay was frustrating
for many residents, as they had to continuously sweep away sand from
their homes and businesses. The sand encroachment seemed unstoppable,
and people resorted to innovative measures such as using empty plastic
bags to seal openings and protect their homes.” Local media in Arandis,
a town near the north-central coast, reported a fatality from a traffic
accident that was caused by extremely poor visibility. Wind speeds of
about 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph) were reported in several
locations.

The intense winds responsible for the shifting sand and salt are known
as “berg winds”—hot, dry northeasterly or east winds that sweep down
from inland mountains and plateaus, lofting dust and fine sediments
into the air and carrying them across the coastal plain. Locally, this
weather is said to be called the "Oosweer" (East Weather). In some
locations, it also carries the nickname “The Doctor,” because it is
thought that the heat and extreme dryness of these winds help dry out
homes, cupboards, closets, pavement, and public places, effectively
disinfecting them from germs that tend to thrive in wet, foggy winter
weather.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/11/2023
Resolutions: 1km (2 MB), 500m (4.4 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=2023-07-13

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