Easterlies-powered Transatlantic sandstorm

Sentinel-3 OLCI RR acquired on 17 June 2020 from 10:37:59 to 12:18:58 UTC
Sentinel-5P TROPOMI AER_AI acquired on 17 June 2020 from 14:32:27 to 16:17:27 UTC
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Sentinel-5P TROPOMI AER_AI acquired on 23 June 2020 at 12:38:25 to 19:23:25 UTC
Author(s): Sentinel Vision team, VisioTerra, France - svp@visioterra.fr
Keyword(s): Atmosphere, storm, erosion, sand, dust, Atlantic Ocean, Sahara desert, Caribbeans, Antilles
Fig. 1 - S3 OLCI & S-5P TROPOMI (18.06.2020) - The OLCI optical images & Sentinel-5P aerosol data show good continuity.
2D view
Notice the laminar–turbulent transition on the northern edge & a von Karman vortex street starting west of Cape Verde.
Fig. 2 - S3 OLCI & S-5P TROPOMI (19.06.2020) - The trade winds blow the fine Sahara sand across the Atlantic Ocean.
2D view
Fig. 3 - S3 OLCI & S-5P TROPOMI (20.06.2020) - The coverage of TROPOMI and both OLCI instruments allows a good assessment of this event.
2D view
Fig. 4 - S3 OLCI & S-5P TROPOMI (21.06.2020) - Powerful wind can cause a degradation of the topsoil.
2D view
Fig. 5 - S3 OLCI & S-5P TROPOMI (22.06.2020) - The Lesser Antilles were reached on 22 June 2020.
2D view
Fig. 6 - S3 OLCI & S-5P TROPOMI (23.06.2020) - The Greater Antilles were reached by the sandstorm the following day.
2D animation 2D view
The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency or the European Union.
Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed by VisioTerra.
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