Published on 19 July 2023
In the first decade of July 2023, strong winds carried multiple plumes of dust and sand from the Namib desert, located along the southwestern coast of Africa.
These plumes can be seen drifting westward in a captivating display captured by a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite on 11 July. Such occurrences are not uncommon in this arid region, where dry and gusty winds can lift fine particles and transport them across vast distances, impacting air quality, visibility, and even weather patterns in the surrounding areas.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) enables global monitoring and forecasting of air quality, and delivers valuable insights into the composition and condition of the atmosphere to support environmental management and public health efforts worldwide.