On March 26, 2020, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite spotted a broad band of aerosols moving across the Bay of Azov.

The gray color of this veil has the appearance of smog or smoke, but appearances can sometimes be deceiving. A very large dust storm rose from Africa’s Sahara Desert in late March, moving aerosolized dust and sand over the Middle East and the Black Sea from March 21-27. Given the motion of the dust over the week, this broad plume most likely is primarily Saharan Dust. It is possible that smoke and haze, unrelated to the dust storms, add to the gray cloud of aerosols.

The Sea of Azov sits to the northeast of the Black Sea, with Ukraine on the northwest and Russia on the southeast side. The Crimean Peninsula is located in the southwest.

Image Facts

Satellite: Aqua

Date Acquired: 3/26/2020

Resolutions: , ,

Bands Used: 1,4,3

Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC