See NASA’s Spectacular Image of a Dust Storm Blanketing the Red Sea

NASA’s Aqua satellite has captured this extraordinary image of a huge dust storm billowing out over much of the Red Sea.

The plume of airborne dust, caught by the satellite’s on-board Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on Wednesday, appears to be blowing northeast-wards out of Africa across the Red Sea towards Saudi Arabia.

Sand or dust storms are not uncommon in this desert region, and NASA said this one resulted from blustery winds caused by a cold front, which was related to a cyclone near the Persian Gulf.

The dust provides an important nutrient supply to the Red Sea and scientists have been studying its cooling effect on the land and atmosphere.