NASA Satellite Captures Dust Storm Over Mali, Highlights Changing West African Dust Patterns

On September 5, 2026, NASA’s Terra satellite recorded a dust plume sweeping across Mali and neighboring West African countries. The image, taken with the MODIS instrument, shows a dense cloud of aerosols that later spread westward, drifting over the Atlantic Ocean. Atmospheric scientist Tianle Yuan notes that such events are often driven by haboobs—intense convective winds that lift loose sediment. While a full transatlantic dust transport is unlikely, the plume’s westward movement illustrates the regional reach of Saharan dust. Yuan also warned that the developing El Niño could alter the Sahel’s dust activity by shifting the Intertropical Convergence Zone, potentially changing both the amount of loose sediment available and the frequency of convective storms. The observation underscores the need for continuous monitoring of dust transport to anticipate its climatic and air‑quality impacts.